#captain's rex new friend forever

[lothkittyyt]

sketch for the story I will describe (You'll have to forgive me, I've never been good at drawing people)

A small creature, a species known only to Kaminoans, while playing, got lost in the long corridors of Tipoca City. She tried to hide, she was very afraid. She cried quietly. Suddenly she heard footsteps and her ears perked up. The blond cadet boy found a her hiding in one of the warehouses. The creature was afraid and didn't want to approach the boy. The cadet took out his treats and handed them to her, she sniffed them warily and when she realized that everything was fine, she accepted the food. She slowly approached the boy and smelled him again. The boy was trustworthy, she hugged him, licked him as a sign of friendship and invited him to play with him. The boy stroked the creature's head. - I'm Rex, I wonder how did you get out here, little one.

[marymary-diva17]

new life with her (2)

captain Rex x reader

It has been two years since you and rex had left the republic had started a new life on neutral planet away from the war. It was a struggle at first but soon life had become good for the both of you, rex had been able to get a identity he kept his name but was no longer seen as clone trapper but a citizen of the galaxy. You were able to change you life as well starting over and finding new happiness. Now the couple had reach a new milestone and year in their lives, since they arrived here they kept in contact with ashoka to hear how everything was going even due they knew not that much has changed, Until now changed had come into the couples lives that will change everything forever.

Rex " ........" rex had never been this worry and nervous in his life then he had ever been even when he was fighting in war. He was standing in hospital waiting for any news about you, and your guys unborn baby. You had become pregnant and now you were in labor rex had about you to the hospital and now was waiting for any news.

rex " I have gone into battle for most of my life and that didn't scare me as that much as this right now" rex was not allowed into the room as doctor and medical droids are attending to you.

????? " rex" rex soon looked up and saw ashoka making her way towards he had called her and it seems like he, got here right away to be supportive of the couple.

ashoka " how is she doing"

rex " I don't know the doctors haven't come out and updated me, now im nerves wrack"

ashoka " it going to be okay rex you and y/n are the most toughest people I know and you have handle everything, that has come your way and now this a new battle or mission for you to experience"

rex " thank you ashoka" soon a cry had been heard that had gotten the duo attention, they soon looked towards the door and soon a doctor came.

rex " doc"

doctor " congratulations sir the labor had went well and your wife have delivered two health babies"

rex " twins are you serious twins" a bright smile had grown on rex face when he heard the news, ashoka was happy as well with the twins.

doctor " yes sir you can go see her now family and friends can see her now and once again congratulations"

rex " thank you doc"

ashoka " well go see her" rex soon went into the room to see the medical droids are with you, they were checking up on you and the babies. They soon made way for rex so he can be near you and the twins.

rex " hello my lovely wife"

y/n " hello my husband I will like you to meet our sons"

rex " we have sons"

y/n " yes two sons healthy and strong will you like to hold one of them" rex had nodded his head he soon took one of the twins and sat down in the chair.

rex " my boys hello my boys"

y/n " it looks like we have a family of our own now"

rex " yes we do and thank you my love for give me to wonderful children" rex smiled towards you and after a while ashoka had came into the room to see the boys.

ashoka " congratulations the both of you on your twins and start of a family"

y/n " thank you ahsoka and thank you for coming it good to have friends here"

ashoka " you two have always been there for me and now I'm here for you two"

rex " what should we name them"

ashoka " I say we should chose a R name so they can match with you"

rex " what about this one here Rowan and his brother Ryder"

ashoka " those are wonderful names welcome to the galaxy town and Ryder, cant wait to see what you two will be in the future"

y/n " I think they will be amazing and follow in their father footsteps"

rex " maybe your footsteps but whatever they do we will be proud of them" ashoka couldn't stay for long as the jedi council and anakin will be wondering, where she she had gone she did give a small gift for the twins and promised to come see the couple again. Later that night the couple had return to their home with their twins, rex making sure to be there for you and the twins. That day the couple had started on their journey of parenthood, as you both had become happy with your new lives here and wouldn't change it for anything.

[rexxdjarin]

Unwritten

The Captain’s Log Prequel

A Captain Rex x OC: Mari Vontas Origin Story

Chapter 3: Collisions of Fate

Series Summary: Mari Vontas has spent nearly twenty years of her life rising to the surface of the bustling ecumenopolis of the Republic Capital planet of Coruscant. Now, about a year into the conflict known galaxy-wide as the Clone Wars, Mari finds herself on a Civilian Rights Committee serving closely under none other than Senator Padmé Amidala. Though her passion for justice fuels her professionally, her personal life has yet to catch up. That is, until a night at the clone bar 79s changes her passion for her job, her historically rocky love life and the trajectory of her destiny forever.

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Pairing: Captain Rex x OC Mari Vontas Word Count: 15.4k Series Rating: Explicit (18+ only, Minors DO NOT INTERACT) Chapter Summary: Mari grapples with an exceptionally upsetting waiting game, a colossal new task at work and the idea that fate is often pre-determined. You never know what might hit you and when, but you’ll definitely know when it does. Chapter Warnings: 18+ Explicit, NSFW, P in V Sex, Oral Sex (M Receiving), Anxiety and Overthinking, Slight struggles with self-worth, Miscommunication, Language, Political References, References to Canon Plot, References to Canon, Mentions of the Ethics of War, References to Violence and Injuries

There was no caf in the galaxy strong enough to shake the exhaustion from Mari’s body. The warm cup she held firmly in her jittery hand certainly wasn’t doing the trick. Her hands shook as she tried to wake up, and her puffy eyes stung with every blink. She’d done her best to pull herself together to look presentable for work after a long weekend of sulking around her apartment.

It had been a long time since she’d been this upset over a guy. In all her years of dating, casual flings, and one-night stands, no man had ever gotten to her like this. She could’ve sworn she’d felt something different about him.

As she stepped inside the tram and took her seat, she leaned her head on the fogged window and tucked herself in for the ride to work. Normally, the ride took mere minutes, but, like everything else in her life at present, today there was a hiccup slowing everything down. A speeder had crashed through the tramline on her usual route forcing her to take the long way around. The route took her right over the top of the downtown levels in the nightlife district—past the last place she wanted to think about.

As if her morning wasn’t already going poorly enough, she closed her eyes just as the infamous neon sign blinked into view and the tram sped past the very spot she last saw him on the platform. 

This tram line was noisier and more packed than her usual one. Parents of all species were corralling little ones into their seats as they rode to school, slickly dressed banking representatives talked loudly into their comms about credit exchange rates, and a group of Dugs danced and writhed along the handrails to earn a few spare credits for entry into the podracing circuit. She usually hated busy tramcars–the extra few minutes she could close her eyes and rest on her route did wonders for her alertness at work. Today, she was grateful the ruckus could at least drown out her thoughts.

Pathetically, she’d cried a good majority of the weekend away. She hated feeling like she’d made a fool of herself in front of all those clones. They probably thought he’d taken her home and had his way with her. To his brothers, he looked like the man, and she looked unsavory at most. That hurt and made her stomach churn. 

She thought he was a better man than that, but maybe her intuition was weakening now that she’d spent over a year in her cushy job. The old Mari—who spent days out at clubs and partying with friends—would’ve been able to get a better read on him.

She’d tried reasoning with herself that maybe something had happened. He was a clone captain after all. He had a job to do and was called away for something important. It wasn’t personal. Yet, she knew of plenty of troopers who found the time to make an effort if it mattered that much to them. Maybe to him, she didn’t. 

The bitter sting of not meaning anything to anyone was what had gotten her so upset. She knew that feeling all too well, and she certainly hadn’t anticipated him being the kind of guy who would make that feeling rise in her again. She might be a confident girl with her life together now, but some wounds took longer to heal and she thought a soldier would understand that.

She was all cried out by the end of the weekend and she was not about to let herself fall apart again on a public Coruscanti tram. 

Mari had wanted to talk to Fox more than anything, but her calls to him went unanswered. She figured he was probably busy roughing up some thugs during typical security or reconnaissance patrol shenanigans on the underworld levels. The thought of that was the first thing to make her smile all weekend and she knew he’d get a kick out of hearing that. 

Fox liked to talk about the highlights of his days to decompress after exhausting assignments, reiterating tales of his well-trained troops’ battle humor and the punks he and the Corries busted. Mari loved watching the way his eyes lit up when someone cared enough to listen to him.

Rex’s eyes lit up the same way when they talked and flirted that night. She liked the way a real smile looked on any clone, but especially on him. His dark eyes twinkled and his lips quirked into an appreciative little smirk when listening to her and it gave her butterflies in her stomach so strong she could feel them even now. 

Although she was pissed about being stood up, she still hoped he was alright. She could look up his status report in the Republic data files when she got to work and pester Fox for whatever information she couldn’t find. She’d feel better about being upset at him if she at least knew he was alive.

As the tram finally rolled to a screeching halt at the stop located on the opposite side of the domed Senate Building, Mari let her feet guide her into the bustling crowd and drifted back into her thoughts. Maybe she had truly imagined the whole thing or severely misinterpreted Rex’s intentions. Maybe the interaction was nothing more than some drunken flirting. Maybe he was just another shitty guy in her long list of shitty guys hoping they could score, but when the alcohol-fueled haze lifted they forgot all about her.

Her heart told her that Rex wasn’t that kind of man. He couldn’t be—not when he held and kissed her like that, gazing at her like he was seeing the stars of hyperspace for the first time. But her quick-witted, traumatized mind told the soft yearning in her heart to quiet down. Hope was a dangerous thing for her sensitive little soul to have and if she didn’t fight every day to protect herself who would?

Mari had mindlessly walked all the way to the lift, scanning her badge to select her floor. Her chest ached as she watched who she was pretty sure was Commander Thorn and some shiny new Corrie trainees checking clearance badges at the security entrance to the ground level. The lift doors slid closed just before he could notice she was there and rocketed her up to her office. She was actually thankful for the start of the work week because she could spend time in the one place that didn’t remind her of Rex. 

As soon as she stepped into her office, she was greeted by every member of her team already hard at work at their desks. Senator Amidala had a flexible work policy, so it was very rare that everyone was at work at the same time. The entire office being filled with bustling senate staff meant only one thing: there was an event happening. Mari sighed deeply, not exactly thrilled about the prospect of having to put on a professional smile while her personal life was being flipped on its head.

She made her way over to her desk and noticed her datapad blinking with unread transmissions and overdue reports. Yeah, something is definitely going on. In her subdued state and rush to get to work, her caf had gotten cold and she reminded herself to make a fresh one before settling in to find out what the big to-do was. Just as she was about to sit down and type her code digits into her datapad, Padmé’s office doors wooshed open.

“Oh good. You’re here, Mari. Thank the stars!” Padmé smiled so wide her eyes crinkled into little sparkling half-moon shapes. “I have a sizable favor to ask of you and I’ll be more than grateful for your help.” She made her way over to sit in the chair on the other side of Mari’s desk and folded her hands onto her lap.

She looked happier than she had in quite some time like some large weight of worry had been lifted off of her petite shoulders. All the light in the galaxy seemed to gravitate toward her and she glowed with the kind of radiant positivity that made people want to follow her. 

“Yes, of course, Padmé. What can I do?” Mari replied, shoving her own personal turmoil further inside herself. Her anger at her dream man’s inaction would have to be dealt with some other time. This may be the type of distraction she needed after all.

“Well, as you might now be aware, my Jedi friends have returned from a few dangerous missions and they bring news about a need for relief supplies in the systems of the inner rim. They finally have the chancellor’s buy-in, but…” Padmé stopped, hesitantly looking up at Mari with an unanswered question likely coming next.

Mari had a sneaking suspicion that whatever she was about to disclose meant mountains worth of work for her to do in the coming days, which was not exactly what she had in mind when she thought work would be a welcome distraction after this weekend’s disappointment. 

“Well?” Mari giggled. “You’re going to ask me to make the impossible happen, aren’t you?”

Padmé smiled and looked down at her hands in her lap, her slender fingers fidgeting with the little white necklace she often wore. “You know me too well, Mari. I am sorry to ask this of you, but the chancellor suggested we hold a charity gala by week’s end in order to raise funding for relief supplies. We’ll need someone to organize much of the event and I trust no one more than you to handle something this important for me.”

The lightness Padmé seemed to exude was nothing short of infectious, and Mari was powerless to resist. Letting out a silent sigh, she agreed. “I will start making some holocalls. You’ll get the guest list to me as soon as possible, right?” Mari begrudgingly swiped up on her datapad to start researching catering menus from the senate kitchen droids as Padmé, utterly beaming, got up from her seat and turned to leave for her next meeting.

“Of course, already on it. Everyone who is here today is making calls to potential donors and celebrities to invite them personally. You’ll have a rough number of attendees by the end of the rotation. I cannot thank you enough, Mari. I don’t know how I would ever do this without you.” She trailed off as she rounded the corner and down the hallway out of sight.

Mari massaged her temples with the pads of her fingers and winced at the thought of all the transmissions she’d have to send in the next rotation in order to make this happen. It would be exhausting work on top of an already emotionally draining last weekend, but it was Padmé asking and it was for the greater good. She couldn’t say no even if she wanted to. Besides, she knew from experience just how helpful supplies and rations from kind, selfless supporters were for those who were suffering in this war.

She groaned softly to herself, taking an apprehensive look at her to-do list for the week and blocking out time for nothing else but this project. Weekly lunches with Siviee and her usual walks around the Senate District levels in the mid-afternoon would have to be cut from her schedule. At least there wouldn’t be any time to think about Rex.

Yet, as the hours went by and her fingers cramped from sending hundreds of transmission orders all over the holonet and senate private network, thinking about Rex was all she did–his day-to-day training, the way he studied her intently as she told him about herself, his slight side smirk whenever she did anything to amuse him, she could not get his buzzed blonde hair and those mesmerizing brown eyes out of her mind. Her stomach fluttered as she reminisced about his hands on her waist, his tongue sliding with hers as their centers brushed heated friction against each other.

She couldn’t deny how incredible her body had felt against his, no matter how much he’d wounded her heart. She hated that he’d affected her like this, especially if he didn’t care enough to reach out again, but she could barely think straight from the pressure building between her thighs.

It couldn’t hurt to check on him, right? 

Taking a brief break from her hectic typing, Mari found herself scouring the Republic records for any mention of his current status. She couldn’t remember his clone birth number, so she took to searching the holonet for articles about the 501st. Most just mentioned General Skywalker and his padawan, Ahsoka Tano, with no clone trooper names or numbers even discussed. Although, there was nothing in any of the holonet reports about tragedies occurring for that specific clone legion, which made her both hopeful that everything was fine and angry that it gave him no excuse not to call her.

It was nearing midday when Mari realized she had completely forgotten about her miserable excuse for a cup of caf sitting on her desk. She picked up the cup and swirled the cold liquid around, feeling her disgust for her entire situation boiling up in her all over again. 

With her anger bubbling up inside, a month's worth of preparation work on her plate, and a stale cup of caf in her hands, Mari shoved herself out of her chair and onto her feet, watching her coworkers militantly executing every holocall, and made her way to the wing of the Senate Dome occupied by the Corries. She snorted as she walked past them. Most of them had never known struggle and had never gone without necessities in their entire cushy lives–not like Mari had.

Growing up an orphan on the lower levels of Coruscant had its difficulties. Although she and Siviee had lived in the same support home for underprivileged life forms, they had rejected much of the help they were freely given purely out of spite. Neither of them wanted anything if it meant they had to accept handouts from people who helped others just to make themselves look better. Granted, they weren’t growing up on a battlefield during a galaxy-wide war like most were now. Still, the less time she had to spend around her coworkers that were only there to appease their rich families’ publicists the better.

Her head was swimming and all she wanted was to sit in her friend’s office and blow off steam. She marched down the corridor past the busy staff of other senators and senate guards escorting visitors around the maze of hallways. She could feel herself getting angrier as she remembered all the time she’d wasted waiting by her datapad all weekend.

Gods, I feel like such an idiot, she thought. She should’ve known she was just another guy’s fun little night out. She never meant as much to them as she wanted to, no matter how much her feelings made her hope otherwise. She huffed bitterly, holding back the steaming tears of anger as they welled up in her lash line.

She approached Fox’s door, punching in the passcode and bursting into the room without her usual announcement of her arrival or even so much as a courtesy knock to warn him first.

“You stupid men are all the fucking same, you know? Nat-born, clone, doesn’t matter. You all exceed in treating me like shit!” Mari shouted angrily, stomping closer to his desk and watching Fox’s graying temples emerge slowly as he turned his chair around to face her.

His heavy scowl raised in surprise at the sight of her roused and angry like a feral tooka. He held up his hands in mock surrender and scoffed jokingly, “Wayii… what the hell has gotten into you?”

He’d barely gotten the words out before she slammed her fists on his desk, her words tumbling out with the flood of emotion she’d been repressing. “Inconsiderate, that’s what it is. You don’t just talk to a girl all night at 79’s in front of your entire battalion and then never fucking call again. Like, who the ever-loving Sith hells does he think he is? I might know how to seduce a man, but I am not a piece of meat. I have feelings, and I don’t like to be toyed with, and–”

Fox jumped from his desk, realizing that she wasn’t joking, and moved swiftly to diffuse her like a triggered bomb. His large gloved hands caught her upper arms and he crouched closer to her eye level. In the deepest, most level tone he could muster, he spoke again, “Mari… hey… Mari, it’s alright. Take a breath.” He guided her closer, instructing her to match her breathing with his own. “Breathe with me. Then tell me what happened, alright? I can’t help you if I can’t understand you, ok?”

She could feel herself shaking, her body returning to the same state of breakdown she’d been in all weekend. She closed her eyes and listened to his breathing, grounding herself in the feeling of his firm, comforting hands. When she finally opened her eyes again, she was met with the same brown eyes she’d longed to see again but in the face of a completely different man. The sight of them brought the tears back, welling up much faster now and screwing her face tighter in anguish.

She shrank down into herself, the boiling conflagration she was mere moments ago now simmered down to embers. “I met someone,” she muttered softly. “Someone who made me feel something I never had before. Someone kind, noble… so different than every man I’ve ever met. It just felt special and meaningful, you know? And he said he’d call, but he never did.” She sniffled and felt a tear cool on her cheek, looking down at her feet where she stood uncomfortably in front of Fox.

He stiffened and worked his jaw in enmity. Anyone who dared to purposefully hurt one of his dearest friends would feel his wrath. “Give me his name and I’ll take care of it, Mari,” he offered, trying to maneuver to look at her face, but she couldn’t bring herself to look up again.

“You can’t, Fox. I mean… I-I can’t ask you to do that,” Mari groaned regrettably, shifting her weight between her feet as she skirted the inevitable truth.

“Oh, trust me, I’m not doing it because you’re asking. I’ve got to teach someone a lesson for my own peace of mind,” Fox chuckled darkly, moving to bring her closer and encircling her in a tight hug. He tucked her much smaller frame into his chest and rested his chin on top of her head, embracing her protectively as she finally relaxed into him. “So, I’ll ask you again. Name?”

Mari let a few beats go by as she accepted the embrace, prolonging the awkward conversation she knew she’d have to have the second she revealed it. Besides, some comfort from one of her closest friends was all she really wanted. She’d take as much of that from Fox as he was willing to give before he jumped into marshal commander problem-solving mode.

She let out a deep breath she didn’t know she’d been holding and mumbled into Fox’s chest. “It was your brother. Rex.”

Suddenly, Fox froze for a split second and backed her up, looking at her wide-eyed in utter disbelief and confusion. Mari finally met his gaze again and blinked up at him innocently. “I’m sorry, did you say, Rex?” Fox repeated, dipping his head closer to her as if he hadn’t heard her properly.

“Yes. Blond hair buzzed real short, blue jaig eyes on his helmet. The… the kindest brown eyes,” Mari recalled, running her trembling fingers along her bottom lip and letting out a dreamy sigh. “Really… really good kisser.”

Fox groaned in mock disgust, rubbing his tired eyes, “Alright, alright I get it. I just can’t believe this entire time we’ve been talking about my little brother.” He backed up into his desk and sat casually on its edge, folding his burly arms across his chest as he worked to process everything. “Spill. Everything. Tell me from start to finish what happened. There’s gotta be an explanation.”

Mari slowly sat down in the chair behind her and hugged her arms to her chest. “I went out with the girls to 79’s. Siv was bartending, so we got drinks on the house. The 501st was back planetside for the first time in a while, I think, and well… I was just drawn to him. We talked and flirted and kissed a little.”

“That’s all? I’ve heard much worse from you,” Fox chimed in, chuckling to himself but earning an irritated glare from Mari in response. “Sorry, go on.”

“We were just about to find a way home together when he got called in. And he promised he’d call me, so we could see each other again, but then the whole weekend went by and he never did. Still hasn’t.” Mari shook her head in disappointment, feeling suddenly stupid for having such hope for someone she’d only spent a few hours with. “I know it sounds stupid, Fox. I know. You can make fun of me. But with him I just… I really thought I felt something this time. That, for once, maybe he did, too.”

Fox let out a deep breath and bent down to her eye level. “Mari, I know Rex. He’s not the type to, well… he’s not your usual type, no offense. He’s a good man. Probably one of our best. If you haven’t heard from him, something must’ve happened. He’d never leave anyone high and dry. That’s not his way.”

“Well, I figured I could come here and have you check on him. You have military clearance that I don’t. Plus, I can’t remember his birth number. That’s the only way someone from the senate can locate a clone.” Mari grimaced, letting her shoulders fall somewhat hopelessly. She muttered softly, “I haven’t cared this much about someone in a long time… maybe ever.”

Fox hummed deeply, reaching over his desk for his datapad and shifting into the chair beside her. He tapped a few buttons and studied Mari’s face for a moment while the information loaded, reaching over and brushing a tear track from her cheek. “I can see that. You don’t come in here ranting and raving about just any guy you’ve victimized,” he joked lightheartedly, doing his best to make her feel better.

Mari laughed gently, rolling her eyes at him expectedly. Not many people realized just how snarky and cheeky Fox could be, and it warmed her to know that she was one of the few he let his guard down with.

“Fox, I come in here ranting and raving all the time. That’s kind of our thing.” She waved her hand and shrugged, “Though, usually you have caf for me.”

“Hey, had I known you were coming I could’ve made you one. Instead, you just burst in here. Didn’t even knock. What if I had company?” Fox argued playfully, raising his brows suggestively.

Mari actually laughed this time, “Oh please, when’s the last time that happened?”

Fox tapped his comm a few times to signal something and then narrowed his gaze, a smirk slipping onto his scarred lips, “Gentleman never tells.” 

His blast doors opened mere moments later and a pair of shinies walked in with two fresh cups of caf, handing both to their commander and saluting formally. “At ease, boys. Thank you. You’re dismissed for the day.” 

They both rushed out an excited “Thank you, sir,” before practically tripping over each other to leave the room.

Mari smiled for the first time all day at the gesture and carefully took the cup from his hand. “Thank you, Fox. I guess you do have your moments.” Before Fox could form a reply, his datapad beeped to signal his search was complete and he quickly opened up the file he requested.

“Right, so… Captain Rex, CT-7567, his birth number by the way. You might want to jot them down so you can remember, Miss Nosy.” He pointed to her holocomm and continued reading. “Nothing out of the ordinary that I can see here. I do see he’s been on an assignment the last few rotations for a mission off-world, so it’s not like he was intentionally avoiding you.”

Mari took a long swig of the steaming hot caf, letting it warm her to her bones and settling her nerves a bit. Fox had even remembered to have the shinies add cream and sugar to it for her. “I guess so. Still not a great excuse, but at least nothing’s happened to him. Can you keep tabs and let me know if anything changes?”

Fox smiled, taking a sip of his caf and smacking his lips. “Sure. I’ll let you know when he’s planetside again. However, if he doesn’t tell you himself first, rest assured that I will kick his ass. It’s been a while since I’ve made him eat the mats.” 

He set down his datapad and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “But, hey, I’d like it to go on record that this is the first guy I actually like for you, and I’m not just saying that because he’s got my good looks. Give him some time to explain himself before you go all rhydonium explosive on him. I’m sure he’ll make things right. He always does.”

“Thank you, Fox, for putting up with me and for caring.” Mari grinned at him, Fox’s approval wasn’t a requirement by any means, but it was appreciated after all she’d been through with men. He had seen her at her worst and had done his best to look out for her whenever he could. She didn’t usually listen to him, as following her feminine desires always came first, but she was grateful for his support.

It made her think twice about her anger, though. If Fox approved of her choice and everything he was saying about Rex was true, he might be the one man worth giving a second chance to. Although Rex had seemingly done a lot already to severely jeopardize his chances with her, maybe this was the one time Mari would follow her heart instead of her head. She could be mad at him and let him work overtime to prove himself and earn her trust. Hell, they’d barely even gotten a first date.

The rest of the week went by in a snap. Mari spent every waking second working to carry out the seemingly impossible task of preparing an entire charity gala on a moment's notice. She had been able to nail down nearly every aspect of the event, from the food and refreshments down to the holonet reporters on the crimson carpet that would publicize the event. 

The only task on her list left unchecked was assigning the clone security team, which she couldn’t bring herself to look at right away. She had hoped with all her power that Fox and the Corries would be the chosen forces. It was the logical choice being that they were already stationed within the Senate Building. Yet, the final decision rested with Padmé, and the second that General Anakin Skywalker himself walked through her office door, Mari knew there was no way he’d allow anyone but his men to take the assignment. Even though she still hadn’t heard from him, it seemed she wouldn’t be able to avoid Rex forever.

When she received the notice that the 501st was indeed taking up the security detail assignment, she found herself rummaging through her closet for a dress that would make her look irresistible. The form-fitting satin in sparkling sapphire blue was sure to capture his attention and this time she wanted to make sure that he was the one left alone on the platform desperate for more.

Her head screamed at her to roll her eyes and treat him with the same evasion he’d shown her, but her heart leapt out of her chest at the news allowing those butterflies she’d felt for him to swoop in, in its place. Mari decided she owed it to that little flutter in her chest to follow that feeling as far as it would take her. She hoped that would be into his arms or bed, whichever presented itself first.

–-

The crowded hallways of the Senate Building swelled around Mari as she made her way to her office. Everything had been transformed with glitzy decorations. If she hadn’t planned every minute detail herself, she never would’ve recognized that this was the same place she came to work every day. Giving herself due credit, she admitted it was not a bad job for having only four rotations of planning time.

She checked her reflection in a transparisteel art piece hanging on the wall outside Padmé’s office, smoothing out any wrinkles in her dress and reapplying lipstick to the plush of her cupid’s bow. She had to look absolutely flawless. Both because it would be political suicide if she didn’t and because she’d already seen dozens of 501st troopers patrolling the halls. She had to be impossible to miss for the captain she’d dreamt about and cried over all week.

Her dark curls swept over the glowing tan of her shoulders and her long, dark lashes drew in the admiration of nearly every man she passed by. A few of the troopers had even stopped to watch her pass, knowing full well they weren’t supposed to. She was knocking them out plenty already. All she had to do now was find her intended target.

She held her small clutch purse close to her as she entered Padmé’s office, finding her boss and her Jedi security detail already inside. A shining copper protocol droid promptly nodded at her and offered a tray of glowing gold champagne. She accepted it carefully, taking a small sip as her boss waved her over excitedly.

“Mari! Welcome, welcome!” Padmé called, rushing toward her in an elegant, backless purple gown and hugging her close. “Stars, you look gorgeous in this,” she complimented, backing up to take in the full look.

“Thank you, Padmé.” Mari spun around slowly, stopping for a mock pose and laughing. “So do you. What kind of magic is holding that dress up?” she pointed out, noticing the lack of straps or even lines of underwire keeping everything in place.

“Force willing, I’ll duratape it up if I have to,” General Skywalker joked, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms as he inched closer. He’d been keeping a protective and cautious eye on the senator since Mari had walked into the room. She’d never seen a Jedi take their mundane security job this literally.

“Oh hush, Master Jedi. It’ll stay just fine. Plus, you’d never let anyone get too close anyway, right?” Padmé argued playfully, winking at Mari as the general huffed his tentative agreement beside her.

He narrowed his eyes at her as if this was continuing an earlier conversation that Mari wasn’t privy to. “Right. Well, uhm, I’m Anakin Skywalker. We’ve never actually met, but I’ve passed your desk lots of times. Mari, right?” He reached out a hand, the argumentative energy between himself and Padmé dissipating as he greeted Mari instead.

“Yes, I am Mari Vontas… but I know who you are. You steal all our visitor’s passes and never bring them back,” Mari teased, tipping her glass at him in jest and laughing. “Padmé talks about you all the time.”

General Skywalker smiled courteously, like he was truly pleased to hear that, and tapped a few buttons on his comm. “You know how it is with old friends.” He looked between both Mari and Padmé and opened his comm channel as it clicked on. “Lots of history. If you’ll excuse me, ladies, duty calls.” He nodded, brushing past the two of them carefully to answer his holocomm.

“So how are things going so far?” Mari asked, surveying the room and finding everything going exactly as planned. The droid servers were offering drinks and hors d’oeuvres to guests popping into the senator’s office before heading off toward the banquet room down the hall, and clone troopers dotted the hallway to monitor and guide the crowd. She was impressed by the intricate strategy and discipline of these boys. If she ever managed to locate Rex, she’d make it a priority to thank him for being so efficient on such short notice after stunning him into silence.

“Very well,” Padmé confirmed, sipping her drink as she pulled a flimsi with her speech notes from her desk. “The general and his Padawan are handling everything. Should be all set to make a quick toast to the VIP attendees in just a little while, and Captain Rex is doing a great job with patrols as usual.”

“Have you seen him yet?” Mari asked hesitantly, trying to be as innocuous as possible. Her eyes scanned over the plastoid buckets of every trooper she watched walk by, secretly hoping one of them was him.

Padmé smirked, noticing the unusual apprehension from her notoriously confident assistant, “Yes. He was here earlier. I didn’t know you knew him.” She cocked her head, trying to get a read on Mari.

Mari shrugged cooly, trying to play off her interest in him, and took another sip of her drink. She wiped her lipstick off the rim and spoke as matter-of-factly as possible, “I don’t. Not really. But I’d like to.” Her eyes went wide as she realized how the unfortunate choice of words made her look and Padmé did not let it go unnoticed.  Mari stumbled in an attempt to disguise her obvious interest. “You know, t-to thank him for this. For all this. They’re doing great. I agree.”

Padmé giggled, “Well, Mari, a girl doesn’t put on a dress like that for no reason. He is quite handsome and I know him very well. I could put in a good word for you. Unless of course there’s more to this story. ” She smirked, stepping closer to keep their conversation more private. “I always thought there was something going on with you and Commander Fox, personally.”

Mari shook her head, looking around the room once to make sure any clones were out of earshot before whispering. “No, nothing with Fox. He and I are just really good friends. There is a lot more to the story, but I don’t think now’s a good time.”

Before Padmé could answer, a soft alarm chimed signaling the time for her evening toast. She patted Mari on the shoulder and nodded her head. “Find me later. I want to hear everything.” With that, she lifted her drink and stepped to the front of the small platform her desk sat on.

Mari moved off to the side, quietly greeting both Bail Organa and Mon Mothma with a smile as they emerged from the crowd. As Padmé began her speech, Mari let her mind wander, watching the faces of some of the most affluent and powerful people on the planet absorb her boss’ words. 

Tonight would be a make-or-break moment. If she saw Rex again then it was because she was meant to and if not, she’d move on with her life like nothing ever happened. There were other men out there and Mari wasn’t going to lose any more sleep over someone who wouldn’t make an effort. As much as she appreciated Padmé, she didn’t necessarily want anyone else to have to force something to happen between her and Rex. She was special enough that he should want to find her on his own.

As soon as she pondered that thought, her gaze was drawn to a pair of unmistakable eyes. Blue jaig eyes carefully painted on a white plastoid bucket. Finally. she thought as her heart leapt into her throat. 

He stood with his arms locked behind his back and legs shoulder width apart as he surveyed the room beside a small, teenage Togruta in all maroon with a silver lightsaber attached at her hip. His Jedi commander is a Padawan. Mari smirked to herself as she imagined how spunky, confident, and probably bossy she would have been if she got to be in charge of so many warriors at that tender age.

She took in the sight of him for the first time in more than six rotations. All the emotions she’d felt for him came flooding back, and she couldn’t believe she’d thought about moving on for a single second. His shoulders were so broad it was intoxicating and all she could think about was how they had felt under her palms as she’d ridden his lap torturously in the bar. She could practically feel his strong thighs flexing as they held her weight on top of them with ease and his trim waist between her legs as she wrapped them around him.

Gods he is beautiful. What a man. she thought to herself, trying to keep from pouncing on him from her place on the small platform. More than anything she wished he’d take that damn helmet off so she could see his crooked little grin and the burnt umber warmth in his brown eyes that she’d fantasized about. She wanted to see his face desperately and for him to see hers.

“I want to thank my incredible junior senate assistant, Miss Mariella Vontas, for helping organize this wonderful event tonight. Mari, we couldn’t have done this without you.” 

Padmé calling her name tore her from her dream state and she looked around in surprise as every sentient life form in the room had their eyes on her. She smiled graciously, bowing her head as she took a look around the room, raising her champagne flute humbly at being so publicly recognized for her efforts. When she turned back to look for her helmeted heartthrob, she was no longer met with the darkened visor set in his white helmet. Now her seductive gaze locked with his, eyes opened wide in utter shock and awe at her standing before him once again.

It felt like someone set off a seismic charge inside her. She blocked out all sound apart from the thumping in her chest rapidly increasing. Her heart raced with excitement and adrenaline pumped through every last vein as she could feel his desire for her burning into her very soul. 

He stared at her with a dopey grin on his face and she smiled at how endearing it was for a man that incredible to be so awe-struck by just a regular girl like her. She had to find a way to get him alone, so they could talk about whatever this was. If she had to yell at him for waiting so long, she would. If she had to talk to his general to get him excused from duty for the night, she would. She was ready to confront every obstacle just to have him in her orbit once more.

Maybe he didn’t know who she worked for or that she was going to be here, but it was like every planet aligned to bring him here before her. However, she was prepared to make him work for her attention this time. She could still feel the bitter sting of anger from the supposed rejection, but she was glad fate brought them together again. She’d never been more sure that her heart was right, no matter what logic and reason told her.

She could hear Fox’s words in her head. Give him time to explain himself. He’ll make things right. He always does. She was ready for a man who would prove himself to her and who wouldn’t fail to be everything she wanted.

With her drink in hand and unbelievable confidence in the sway of her hips, she stepped into the crowd, heading for the door and hoping to all the stars above he’d follow her lead. She made her way to the banquet hall a few doors down, locating her seat at the table along the back wall set aside for the senator’s aides. Luckily, it gave her a perfect view of the entryway and she waited with bated breath for him to follow in her footsteps. Hopefully, he’d find time to quickly talk to her before duty called again.

Sure enough, he practically burst through the doors with the Padawan in tow. His helmet was tucked under his left arm and he turned to speak to the Togruta girl hurriedly, her large blue eyes peeking over his shoulder to stare in Mari’s direction briefly. Mari picked up her flute to take another sip, anxiously trying to find something to do to make her look casual as she waited for him to make his move.

Suddenly, he spun on his heel, marching toward her with purpose that slowly tapered off the closer he got. Mari watched him intently with her siren’s stare, beckoning him closer to her with every blink. She arched her brow at him in mock annoyance and pursed her lips, challenging him to do his absolute best to earn her attention again. 

Just as Rex went to sit in the seat beside her, a few of her colleagues brushed him aside to take their seats, barely acknowledging his presence. Mari glared at them for their rude intrusion, not wanting them to treat any clone like a second-class citizen, even if she was mad at him. Crowds of people flooded into the room and Rex had no other choice but to take his place against the wall behind her.

She spun around in her seat, drink in hand, and glowered at him expectantly. He glanced over at her and nodded politely, the rush of people probably scaring him into silence. Hoping he would overcome his fear, Mari worked her jaw in anger and turned back around, as if to ignore him. Almost sensing his panic prickling up her backside, she heard a gentle hiss from behind her.

“Psst… hey… surprised to see you here, brown eyes,” he whispered, his voice fading behind a crowd of people passing between them to get to their table. Mari leaned back in her chair subtly, brushing her long hair behind her back in order to hear him better.

“Can I help you, trooper?” she shot back, peeking at him over her shoulder and giving him as much attitude as she could muster to signal how much he had upset her.

He sighed deeply, “Mari, c’mon, don’t give me that. I-I’m sorry. I can explain.” He sounded apologetic, but even risking one look at his big, pleading eyes would weaken her resolve way too much. She had to make this at least a little difficult for him. He had to know he couldn’t have her that easily.

“I’m surprised you remember I have a name. I thought since you didn’t call me you might’ve forgotten it,” she jabbed, downing the rest of her drink in one sip and turning around to scowl at him. She tried her best to look angry, especially since she didn’t want to cry in a dress this nice and makeup this perfect.

When she finally made eye contact with him again, she could tell that he saw right through her pout. He saw the pain behind her eyes that no one else usually noticed, sometimes not even Fox. 

His brows knitted together and his lips tightened in anguish, immediately feeling immense guilt for ever hurting her. He stood there studying her, opening his mouth to say something, but failing to find the words to explain himself.

Another small group of people passed between her and Rex, the awkward tension between the two of them building with every second he didn’t respond to her. Mari rolled her eyes and scoffed, “Whatever. Excuse me, CB-18, another drink, please?” She choked down the fluttering in her chest as she called to the copper protocol droid serving drinks at a nearby table, smiling at them graciously as they made their way over.

“Yes, Miss? What would you like?” CB-18 asked pleasantly, offering her a platter filled with frothy, bubbling drinks of every flavor and color imaginable. 

“Champagne is fine. Thank you,” Mari smiled, waiting patiently for the droid to fill up another flute. From behind her, she could just make out the unmistakable sound of armor clattering as he approached, the crowd of people milling about giving him enough cover to go unnoticed.

The droid raised its metal hand to pick the now completely full flute off the tray and leaned down to hand it to Mari. “Here you are, Mistress. Enj–”

Before Mari could accept the drink, someone bumped the protocol droid's arm, sending its entire fluid contents spiraling out of their hand and directly into Mari’s lap. Everything from her chest down was soaked, the liquid bleeding across the threads of blue satin perfectly fitted to her midriff.

“Oh dear, Mistress, I am terribly sorry,” the droid trailed off with their programmed pleasantries. 

Mari completely ignored them to whip around in anger at the person who knocked into them. Of course, it was none other than the captain himself, standing as rigid and stiff as before with his eyes wide in horror at what he’d done.

“I-I can explain! I didn’t mean to… fuck, I’m so sorry,” he stumbled, reaching for a thick, cloth napkin on the table, but Mari moved away from him.

Mari was ready to explode. After everything she’d experienced the weekend before, all she’d done to prepare herself to hopefully see him today, this was what she got? No explanation, no compliments on how she looked, nothing but a half-baked, nervous conversation and champagne dumped down her dress. 

All she wanted to do was run. “Excuse me,” she huffed, tossing her napkin on her table and storming off. As soon as she left the banquet room and entered the much quieter hallway, she groaned loudly in frustration. Hot tears began running down her face before she could even process what she was feeling. 

She marched down the hallway, away from the noise and toward more offices she wasn’t very familiar with. Most of the rooms up here were occupied by those from the other side of the political aisle–those who benefited from and profited off the war, which meant there was no chance any of them would be attending this gala. She could, at the very least, get away to feel sorry for herself in peace.

Further down, she could just make out two helmeted clones patrolling the hall. She didn’t recognize them, but one of them called out to her the second she was within earshot. 

“Hey, I know you! Little minx from the bar… how are you?” 

Something about that velvety tone was so familiar, but she couldn’t exactly place him based on voice alone. He had the patterning of a Rishi eel carefully painted on his helmet and was flanked by a second clone who donned a perfectly crisp arc in blue on his.

“Fives, you di’kut, she’s clearly not in the mood.”

Oh right. Fives. The smooth-talking, handsome, cheeky clone she met sitting at the bartop that weekend. Of course, he was here, too. She rolled her eyes, trying to avert her gaze to walk by without them seeing her tears.

Before she could brush past them, the second clone stepped in front of her, cocking his head as he assessed her body language. “Uhm, sorry for prying, Miss, but are you alright?” he asked gently, removing his bucket with one hand. His eyes, crinkling with lines he was too young to have, teemed with worry as he inspected her. 

She remembered this clone, too. Pacifying his brother and quietly taking control to diffuse the tension of the situation. Echo. His name was Echo. She blinked her tears away as much as she could and smiled meekly up at him. “I’m fine, Echo… it’s just my dress–it’s ruined.”

“You… you remember my name?” he asked quietly with a shy grin, mostly to himself and very clearly not used to anyone outside the battlefront addressing him by name. “What happened?”

“Yeah, tell us who did this to you. They’ve got a very serious ass-kicking coming their way,” Fives snickered, removing his helmet and cracking his knuckles to prepare for the hypothetical fight he was having in his mind.

“That’s gonna be kinda difficult for you,” Mari started with a scoff, looking up at both men doubtfully. Echo shrugged, searching the hallway for the nearest refresher and nodding as he located the closest private one only a few steps away.

“Let’s get you dried off at least,” Echo offered, carefully ushering her forward with a nod, but without touching or pressing her in any way. Fives darted into the refresher and started pulling handfuls of towelettes from the dispenser.

They were both incredibly respectful of her space, to Mari’s surprise. She wasn’t used to being treated so graciously when she was so vulnerable. It allowed her to relax and follow Echo to the fresher door, becoming less bristled by the second.

“Thank you, both. I just–can’t believe he did that,” Mari muttered, her voice quiet as she took a bundle of towels to dab herself off. “I thought you guys were better behaved than that,” she joked sarcastically.

“Wait, what?” Echo’s friendly eyes darkened quickly, turning to Fives for support and finding an equally outraged look on his identical face.

“Which one of our idiot brothers do we have to fight?” Fives practically growled, leaning forward to brush one of Mari’s dark, loose curls away from the wet fabric.

First Fox, now Fives and Echo. I wonder how many ass-kickings Rex will have lined up for him by the end of the night. Mari thought amusedly, remembering how Fox had once told her many disputes between brothers were typically solved with a supervised sparring match, regardless of rank. They had been raised to fight after all.

Mari gulped. “I don’t think you want to know,” she smiled nervously, her eyes catching a figure barreling down the hall from where she just came. Fives caught on before she could say anything else and stepped further out into the hall to stop his CO from coming any closer. 

“What the hell did you do?” Fives challenged bravely, shoving Rex slightly as he pressed him back away from her. 

Rex looked panicked. His shoulders sagged in an unusual admittance of defeat, his expression woefully apologetic, and his brow wrought with worry. It was probably an accident and Mari certainly had succeeded in making him feel bad enough about everything he’d done if he was chasing her down the hallway.

“Easy, Fives. It’s alright. I’m alright,” she said, not wanting them to start a scuffle in the hallway. “Dress is probably ruined though. Not the way I was expecting it to be,” she added under her breath, making Echo smirk knowingly beside her as he caught on.

“Mari, I am so, so sorry. It was an accident. Can I just… I mean, you don’t owe it to me. I’m an idiot… but can you please just let me explain?” Rex rambled from over Fives' shoulder, ripping the towelettes from Fives’ hands and offering them to her.

Mari looked between the three identical men and sighed, “Alright, fine, blondie, but you have a lot to answer for. Can you both give us a minute?” She motioned between herself and the captain and crossed her arms as Rex approached her side. She turned and waved for him to follow, squaring her shoulders and trying to regain the confidence she’d had before. “We’re going to one of these spare offices, ok?” 

He nodded curtly, starting to walk beside her, “You two, stay here at your position. Cover for me. Comm me if there’s an emergency. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison, straightening up and taking their positions against the hallway walls just outside the office doors. Mari could hear Fives complaining the second he thought they were out of earshot, probably grumbling about how unfair it was that he had to be stuck out here.

She and Rex walked awkwardly inside the unoccupied room, and the few feet they stood apart felt like miles. The office was once utilized by senators from a planet that had since left the Republic to join the Separatists and was left empty until a better use for it could be found. Well, empty except for pieces of spare furniture other senators evidently had no better place for.

Mari propped herself up on the side of one such desk, probably recently placed since it hadn’t accumulated any of the dust coating the rest of the furniture. Rex did the same across from her, just barely leaning on the surface, his body language was screaming his desire to be closer to her again. From their distance apart, Mari finally met his gaze with her big doe-eyes, still glossy with some leftover tears.

“I can only imagine how upset you are with me, and, for the record, I’m not crazy about myself right now either, but I am so fucking sorry. It was an accident, I swear. I was just stepping closer to explain myself and  I must’ve bumped the damn shiny droid. I would never do that to you,” he started, rambling in his attempt to explain himself.

She raised her hand and shushed him. “Rex, that’s not why I’m upset. Though it doesn’t help that you ruined my carefully crafted look.” Mari folded her arms and sighed, “I’m upset because you ignored me for a week. Makes me feel kinda cheap, you know?”

“That’s why I wanted to talk to you.” Rex closed his eyes and unclipped his repaired shoulder pauldron to reveal a sizable blaster burn in the white plastoid of his chestplate. “I got shot in the chest on our last mission. Almost didn’t make it. Spent the last five rotations in medbay with my CMO, Kix. I was pretty out of it for the first few hours. According to him, I wouldn’t shut up about needing to comm you actually.”

Mari’s jaw dropped in surprise, her heavy brows knitting together in shock. All of a sudden, she felt a sizable pang of fear and sheepish regret flood her chest. He hadn’t been avoiding her. He wasn’t trying to hurt her at all. In fact, he was the one who was hurt. He could’ve died while Mari was sulking around her apartment feeling rejected like a baby. 

“Oh, stars above, Rex.” She clutched her hands to her chest and felt guilty about how she acted. “I feel like such an ass.”

He shook his head and laughed, a wry smile drawing across his face. “No, no. It’s fine. I deserve it. I should’ve commed you as soon as I could. I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn’t care. That’s the farthest thing from true after what I’ve been through this last mission…” he trailed off like he was recalling a past conversation or memory. 

Mari felt herself being drawn into him exactly like she was the night they met, even more so now that she knew he was almost fatally wounded in the field. She gripped the edges of the desk, resisting the urge to run across the room and throw herself on him. She wouldn’t have been able to live with herself if something had happened to him. “Are you… alright now? Nothing a little bacta couldn’t fix right?”

He shrugged, quickly scanning down her body to admire the dress on her before speaking again, “Yeah, but it was awfully close. Thought about you the whole time, you know–how much I would have regretted it if I never got to see your face again. I just can’t believe you’re here. I didn’t know you worked for Senator Amidala, and I really am sorry about your dress, you look incredible.”

Mari shoved herself off the desk and moved a few paces nearer to him to close the gap between them. She had heard enough apologies to know he meant it, and she didn’t have enough willpower to keep herself away from him any longer.  “Oh yes, she’s my boss. I’m on a special interest committee, human rights, activism, etcetera. I planned this whole thing.”

He clutched the edge of the desk he was leaning on and his eyes flicked down to watch the sway of her hips as she sauntered over to him. “You’ve done a pretty good job. My boys working security should keep things running smoothly. Hope they impress you.” 

A few steps closer and she was finally within arm's length of him, and his mouth quickly went dry. She tossed her hair back behind her shoulders and stepped in front of him. Even with all 5 feet 2 inches of her staring up at him, he was still taller than her from his seated position. 

Mari reached out to rest her hand on his bicep and traced it slowly up his arm, “They’re not the ones I want to be impressed by, Captain. I think you owe it to me twice over now.”

Rex’s gaze narrowed in determination, the nervousness melting away from his body as the adrenaline kicked in. He took a few moments to let the building tension thicken in the space between them and studied the features on her face intently–committing her to memory all over again. The corners of his mouth quirked into the little sideways smile that was all his own despite his familiar clone face. “There she is. That’s the little spitfire I remember.”

Her desire for him ignited under his stare. He was focused solely on her, keeping his hands to himself as he let her take the lead. She wanted to tear the armor off of him, to reward him for being so sweet and thoughtful when he was literally mere moments away from certain death. Was there anything more romantic than his admittance that she was who he thought about while he was trying to heal? 

Mari smiled happily and eased forward to settle herself between his parted thighs. She rested both hands on his shoulders and muttered, “I’m so sorry I was being so cold before. I misunderstood everything and I was just trying to protect myself. Not every man is as noble as you.”

Rex swallowed hard, caging her in with one arm around her waist. Carefully, he moved to rest his other palm on her cheek, “It’s alright. You’re kinda cute all pouty. You can be a little bit of a brat, huh?”

Mari bit her bottom lip and grinned, “You have no idea, Captain.” She slowly guided his thumb to her lips and suckled it into her mouth, giving him a teasing look at what she might be willing to do for him very soon. 

He moaned softly, his brows raised in surprise at her boldness. The way her dark eyes peered up at him under her long lashes sent a shot of arousal straight to his cock, but he shook the stunning lewd gesture off to make his own bold move to give her a taste of the tricks up his sleeve.

“I–uh… I mean it when I say I thought about you every day,” he admitted, slipping his thumb from her mouth and tipping her chin up toward him with his knuckle. His touch was slow and delicate, precariously balancing the tension between them like he was walking a tightrope. He leaned in closer, his darkening gaze jumping between the desperation in her big brown eyes and the plush of her parted lips emanating shallow bated breaths. “Every time I closed my eyes, I saw yours.” 

Mari could feel any semblance of composure she had left dissolving under his touch. She hiked her dress up and climbed onto his lap, just like she had at 79’s, and sank down just enough to rest her center on his. She moved her hand up to pull his face closer, but he caught her fingers with his own and entwined them together.

He let out a weighted exhale, clearly affected by the brush of her core, but maintained intoxicating eye contact. 

“I dreamed about having you in my lap again, feeling you all over me.” He glanced down at where her dress had now bunched up and let his tongue wet his lips hungrily, tipping his chin up to brush his nose with hers. He rested his index finger just below her jawline and held her delicately in limbo. “Even if I never saw you again, I didn’t want to forget this….” 

Their souls were set alight as their lips connected. Sparks flew and supernovas formed as raw need exploded between them. 

Mari let his tongue slip inside to dance with hers and she exhaled a mixture of relief and delight. Each time one of them broke for air, the other chased to close the gap between them. Faster and faster they worked until their lips were swollen and their chests heaving. 

“The blue was a nice touch. Looks good on you,” he smirked, running his hands up and down her waist and appreciating both the fabric and her curves.

“I thought it would.” Mari let her gaze darken and ran her hands down the front of his chestplate, leaning toward his ear and muttering seductively, “I think it would look much better off me, though.” 

“Yeah…” he breathed, fumbling for his words as he swallowed nervously. “Y-yeah it would. You really know how to work me, don’t you?” He looked up at her with both desperate need and total reverence.

“Mhm.” She hummed, kissing down his neck and feeling his hands slide lower to fiddle with the exposed hem of her dress. “Get me out of this, Captain. Please.” 

His hands worked fast, peeling the champagne-soaked satin up and helping her guide it over her head. Now she sat naked from the waist up in all her feminine glory, and she mentally thanked herself for her earlier decision to not wear a bra. 

“Fuck,” he gasped, sitting back on the desk and letting his eyes rake over every inch of her. “Not even in my dreams could I have imagined you. Y–you’re so…” He shook his head, struggling to find a word to describe her.

“Hot? Sexy? I’ve heard it all, Rex.” Mari rolled her eyes playfully, looping her arms over his shoulders to pull him close to her again.

“No. Beautiful. I was going to say beautiful, but it still doesn’t feel like a good enough word. Meadows and flowers and waterfalls are beautiful… you are just beyond… anything I’ve ever seen.” He reached for her face again, brushing a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear and pulling her into another deep kiss. “Mesh’la.”

Mari blushed a deeper red than the halls of the Senate Building. She was used to being desired and lusted after, but this was something else. Rex revered her, not as an object of pleasure, but as a lifeform with a heart, a soul, and feelings. 

“Thank you, Rex,” she whispered as she pulled away, holding his ardent gaze with her own. “But don’t think this means I’m not still mad at you,” she scolded playfully, beginning to work at the clasps of his chestplate to remove it from him.

Somewhere deep in Rex’s gut, he could feel the natural craving for companionship growing stronger. With her in his arms, feeling her desire for him, he couldn’t deny himself of it anymore. If he were to ever allow himself to dream of a life beyond duty, she was exactly who he’d want. Imagining a future was a luxury most clones couldn’t afford. It had taken an extreme amount of courage and willpower for him to admit that to himself and for him to even be here before her right now.

His brows raised, surprised that she knew how to take clone armor off. He helped her unclip each piece, shucking it off and letting it clatter to the floor of the storage room. “Oh, you should be mad. Furious even. Flash me that cute little angry pout you do. S’long as you feel something for me, I’m happy,” he chuckled softly. 

The rumble of a deep laugh in his chest made Mari’s core ache with want as the vibrations reverberated through him.

“You’re going to have to work pretty hard to get me to forgive you, blondie.” She walked her fingers slowly down the black fabric straining across his chest and swirled her fingers along the bronzed skin just underneath the seam. Her touch brushed up the trail of little hairs on his abs as she eased his top up agonizingly slowly. She bit her lower lip and moaned softly, “Think you’re up for it?”

“Hmmm… Mari.” He let a gravelly purr leave his chest just as both her palms splayed over his pec muscles on either side. 

She felt the freshly bacta-healed scar on his chest and swallowed down the lump in her throat forming at the thought of her never getting the chance to see him again. A blaster bolt to the chest could’ve killed him and he healed thinking only about the girl he would’ve missed out on. Mari traced it lightly and let her gaze dart up to flick between his eyes and the scar. She wanted to ask him all about what happened, but she’d take her time with him if it still hurt. 

Instead, as if he could feel the apprehensive question in her mind, he pushed her hands down gently and groaned softly, “Let me show you how ready I am.” He slipped his duraweave top over his head and wrapped his arms around her to pull her close. Her breasts pushed into his chest salaciously and he took a noticeable glance down at them before burying his face in her neck.

“Rex…” Mari gasped softly, letting her hands roam over the rippling muscles of his shoulders and admiring the width of him underneath her much smaller hands. She could feel his warm tongue swirling circles at the hollow of her neck, the gentle suckling of his lips dotting her decolletage with deep purple marks. He left a trail of simmering embers on each spot in his fiery wake, setting the passion between them ablaze the further down her torso he went.

“That’s it. Call my name, pretty girl,” he muttered, nuzzling his face into her breasts and tugging at a nipple softly with one hand. “‘S never sounded better.” 

She could feel his smirk against her skin as he cupped and massaged the round plush of her breast in his massive hand. She clung to him, letting him appreciate her naked body while she struggled to remember how to talk or breathe. She nearly forgot everything but the electrifying feeling of him touching her like this where she’d ached to have him for so long. Before she knew it, his hands were at her hips, rocking her slowly but firmly against him like she had in the booth when they first met. 

They both tempted each other, building on the painful friction while hoping the other would snap first. But Mari knew how to crack him. She’d done it dozens of times before. No man could resist her on her knees, not even someone as strong-willed as Rex.

To her own discontent, she slowed her writhing against his wide thigh plate and caught her breath while he shifted uncomfortably beneath her. She could see the fabric of his blacks straining against his codpiece and her mouth watered thinking about what his pretty cock might look like under there. “Awh, poor baby. Was that all ‘cause of me?” she teased, clicking the plastoid off.

He huffed softly, feeling momentary relief at the added room. “Been because of you for a week. Got off so many times thinking about you. Couldn’t get you out of my head.”

“Which one?” Mari giggled suggestively, more than enjoying the effect she had on him. 

Rex groaned in delighted frustration as she palmed him gently, giving her a pointed look and grinning sheepishly. 

“How about for real this time?” she asked, grabbing his jaw and leaning in to place a lazy open-mouthed kiss on him. “I want to see what I’ve done to you, Captain.” Tracing her thumb over his bottom lip, she pushed herself off of him and slowly sunk down to kneel between his parted thighs.

She dragged her hands down his lower torso and stopped to unclip both thigh plates. He hissed softly as the heat of her body spread over his now-exposed thighs, her breasts precariously pressed into the outline of his cock underneath his bottoms. He shifted his hands to grab at her shoulders, eagerly keeping her in place while she pawed at him. He swallowed thickly, the tension in his body starting to lessen as she worked him over with just her body weight resting on him.

“I’ve n-never… wanted anything… more,” he grunted between increasing pants of anticipation. His thumb brushed over the apple of her cheek as he tipped her face up to maintain his heart-stoppingly needy gaze. “Just… keep looking at me. Want to always see that pretty face.”

Mari smiled far too demurely for someone seconds away from doing something so provocative and turned to place a reassuring kiss into his palm. “Whatever you say, sir.” She smirked as that elicited a whimper from him, and she slowly let her hands trace down his abs, toying with the waistband of his bottoms to prolong the teasing. His erection twitched with anticipation as she finally looped her fingers into the fabric and tugged it down gently.

Her eyes nearly glazed over with delight at the sheer size of him waiting for her. His cock was long, thick, and as bronze as the rest of him, slapping up against his lower torso as it sprung free. She could feel her mouth watering and the space between her thighs slipping together lewdly as her mind raced faster than her body moved. He was perfect, not a single fucking flaw, and gods she wanted every last inch of him inside any part of her.

She sucked her lower lip behind her teeth and stared up at him in affectionate awe, letting her hands smooth along the inside of his thighs. “Hmmm… wow, look at you. Such a perfect cock.” His eyes hooded and his chest stuttered as he panted with unbearable longing. Mari wrapped a hand around the base to hold him and let her other hand curl just below the swollen head. She parted her lips, letting saliva pool on her tongue and dripping it down onto her waiting fist.

“For such a perfect girl,” he grinned, his jaw dropping as Mari tipped forward and licked the tip with the end of her tongue. Rex drew in a gasp, his hands flying to the side of her neck and brushing her curls behind her back. “Fuck, you’re good with that bold little mouth, aren’t you?”

“Stop talking and you’ll find out,” Mari smirked, sliding her spit-slick fist down the length of his shaft and kissing his tip gingerly. He chuckled but was cut off from saying anything more by Mari inching down to trace a long stripe up his cock from base to tip. Rex seemed to short-circuit, his grip in her hair starting to tighten more desperately. She knew she had him exactly where she needed him now.

With both her hands curled around him as she gently stroked him, she wrapped her lips around him and swallowed him down deeper with each inhale. He was a lot to take, but nothing she couldn’t handle. Each brilliant vein pulsed against her lips as she bobbed up and down along him. She hummed happily, the velvet of her tongue swirling around him and her cheeks hollowing tighter with every suckled pass. 

He gently held her, not pressuring her to move faster, but keeping her steady as her rhythm built him up toward his climax. He could do nothing but try to breathe, run his fingers through her silky hair, and keep his eyes open to stare at her with powerful lust. Mari couldn't tear herself away from looking at him either. Though he was more turned on than he’d maybe ever been, there was a look of genuine adoration in his eyes that made Mari’s belly clench with want and intrigue.

Rex threw his head back as Mari swallowed around him, sliding his tip down to bump the back of her throat. She glanced up at him through her thick lashes as she fought back tears and could feel the knot in her belly tightening at the sight of him. His strong, rounded jaw clenched as he groaned in delight, broad, squared-off shoulders and hard, tensing biceps held her to him and the thickness of his rippling torso glistened with a thin sheen of sweat forming along his tan skin. He looked delicious all worked up and writhing for her.

Mari’s center pulsed with desire, her core pounding with an overwhelming need for him. Even if he was close to cumming, Mari didn’t think she could do much more for him without wanting to explode herself. Molten need toiled around in her belly and she was sure she’d drenched through her lace panties as she worked him. His hands moved to delicately brush the hair from her forehead before sliding them down her shoulders to rub away the tension.

After a few beats longer of watching her suck him off, he tugged her hair gently. “Easy, pretty girl. I want to finish, but not like this.” He sat himself back on the strength of one arm and tried to come back to himself. He looked utterly wrecked in the most satisfying way, and if Mari never touched another man ever again, she’d be happy just remembering the way he looked right now. “Not without you,” he finished, his eyes squinting as a beautiful, satisfied smile spread across his handsome face.

Mari wiped her mouth with her thumb, the sweet tang of his precum on her tongue and wearing her own happy, blissed-out grin. Before she could even rise to her feet, he scooped her up eagerly. She yelped in surprise, her widened thighs positioning her so that her soaked panties rested perfectly against his aching cock. His lips smashed into hers, tasting himself in her kisses and sliding her back into his lap. Her eyes rolled back in her head as the heat of him pressed up against where she needed him. Looping her arms around his neck, she broke the kiss to moan desperately.

Immediately, Rex caught on to her reaction and rolled his hips up into her again. “Yeah, that’s what you want. Taking my cock in your mouth made you all wet, huh?” he teased, smirking as she pressed herself down onto his lap. His hands held onto her waist, caressing the soft curves of her skin and letting her briefly satisfy the ache she’d been feeling.

“Mhm. I’m soaked. You got me so worked up, Captain. You’re fucking hot. You’re so hot and I don’t think you even realize how–” Mari stammered, interrupted by Rex’s curled fingers stroking the soaked lace of her panties over her heat. Mari closed her eyes and mewled pathetically at the contact. “How much I…”

Rex’s other hand cupped her face, resting his forehead against hers and kissing her with all the passion he could muster. His knuckles brushed along her slit, stopping to let the pad of his thumb toy with her clit cruelly. He bit down on her lower lip as he pulled away, his confidence growing now that he knew the effect he had on her as well. 

“How much I what, pretty girl? Tell me what you need and it’s yours,” he instructed slowly but firmly.

With their foreheads pressed together and Mari’s hands clinging to the corded muscles of his neck, she let her seductive glare bear deep into his eyes and she exhaled. “How much I want you. How much I need you to…” She trailed off again as Rex’s deft fingers pushed her panties to the side and slipped two fingers between her slick folds.

A deep, weighted purr left Rex’s chest as he massaged her wet pussy so delicately it was making her completely forget herself. Words were a blur, her mind completely hazed by the musky, woodsy scent of him all around her, her body overcome with rushes of heated desire coursing through her veins like liquid fire. The building tension in her belly was coiling immeasurably hot and the only relief was his touch on her clit stoking the flames of pleasure. Mari whimpered into another of Rex’s heavy kisses, her hands now clinging to his biceps as he circled her clit with the perfect amount of pressure.

“Need what, Mari? This what you need? My fingers in this perfect pussy? Such a wet little thing… you can’t help it,” he tutted playfully, resting his cheek against hers as he looked down at her bucking her hips into his hands. “Did you think about me too? The way I thought about you? All hot and bothered, slick between your legs because you wanted me? Mesh’la, look at me,” Rex instructed affectionately, working her into a frenzy and smiling at all he could do with just his hands and his words.

“Rex,” Mari moaned his name, gripping his biceps and grinding into his throbbing cock with her drenched folds. She held his stare with her own half-hooded one and dragged him into a heated desperate kiss with clashing teeth and bitten lips and pulled away gasping two muttered little words. “Fuck me.”

In half a heartbeat, he tore through the lace of her pink panties and tossed them onto the floor with the rest of his kit. Weighted palms grabbed at the round flesh of her ass as he flipped them both over. Her bare back pressed against the cold surface of the spare desk, and she clawed down his shoulders deep enough to leave marks as she begged him for entrance. He kissed her three times more, parting her thighs and sliding her entire bottom half toward where he stood waiting and hard as a rock.

“Thought you’d never ask,” he laughed softly, caressing circles on her hip bones as he thrust himself through her heat to coat his length in her slick. He notched himself at her entrance and pressed inside with a groan, the stretch around him frictionless from all the teasing he’d given her. 

Mari practically squeaked in delight, the perfect, heavy tip of him notching inside her beautifully and making her bloom open more to receive his greater girth. “Fuck… move. Please. Deeper,” she begged, digging her nails into his shoulders and wrapping her thighs around his waist to pull him closer. 

He slipped in deeper, the heat of his cock radiating inside of her in the best way and coaxing her tight walls to open up just a bit more for him. He tested out a roll of his hips and pounded the tops of his thighs against the edge of the desk. The snap of his hips carried a brutal amount of power and Mari scrambled to pull him deeper inside her again. He groaned loudly, finally feeling the full collapse of her around him and shivering in absolute ecstasy. “So fucking tight. Feels so good. Like they made you for me.” 

“I could say the same, Captain. Fuck. More, baby, please,” she pleaded, craving so much more of the stretch he was providing. Every breath she took dragged him in deeper and she wanted to drown in the wave of pleasure that was quenching the burning heat inside her. He was all over her. 

His strong hands seemed to find every place she needed him–kneading her breasts in his hands as he thrust, lifting her hips up and supporting the small of her back to change the angle he was spearing into her, and turning her face back toward him so he could see her every orgasmic, pleasure-filled expression.

Rex kept at an efficient pace, not too fast and not too hard, just enjoying the languid heat inside and exploring her body. He needed to know what made Mari feel good, what places he could lick or grab to make her scream, and which positions had her yelling his name so loud she was sure someone would’ve heard them. 

Mari lost herself in how naturally and easily he took control. She didn’t have to think about satisfying anyone and didn't have to worry about catering to what he wanted. All he needed her to do was feel and he was taking care of the rest. It was a different kind of sex than anything she had before because it wasn’t just one person satisfying the other, but rather two partners working together to share in the desire they’d built together.

Mari reached for him, dragging him down on top of her so she could cling to him the way she wanted. Every part of her touched some part of him and she completed that by sealing him into breathless, sloppy kisses whenever she could. He had seemingly unstoppable stamina, able to go at a pace that satisfied her for much, much longer than any other man she’d ever had. Every so often, he’d pull back to check in with her, waiting for her approval before diving back down to bite a new mark into her tan skin. 

Suddenly, he thrust into a spot so deep and sensitive it made Mari’s vision white out. The strangled sound of pain mixing with moans of pleasure gave Rex pause, but she quickly called his name and moaned at a much breathier, higher pitch than before. “Oh… right there! That spot… again. Please, Rex!” she whined, holding his jaw with her palm and watching him smirk knowingly at the perfect place inside her he was able to find.

“Here?” he rolled his hips again, grinding deeper and making Mari cry out in delight. She parted her thighs more to give him better access and he nearly folded himself over her to piston into that same sensitive place as many times as he could. “That’s it. Such a good girl. Want to feel you cum for me. Gods, you’re so fucking beautiful.”

Mari leaned forward to grab at him again, but instead, he took her hand in his and pinned it beside her. His other hand gripped her hip and held her steady while he plowed into her even harder. Mari lost track of the amount of times she sang his name in response. She’d only ever had toys make her feel this good.

He rested his head in the crook of her neck momentarily, and let his stirring hips drive himself into her spot over and over again. Rex’s praises turned into hisses and grunts behind gritted teeth as he tried with all his might to hold his own orgasm back until she was ready to let go with him. 

Squelching sounds filled the room as heat began to flood Mari’s opening. The pressure in her belly was being repeatedly combated by the steady weight of his cock splitting her walls to fit him and she could feel herself rocketing to heights previously unknown. His gorgeous face reappeared hovering above her with a determined scowl, his brows pressed together and his jaw slack as the wave just began to crest inside him.

His fingers found her clit again, delicately twisting looping circles on the little bundle and making tears form in her eyes at the new sensation added to his incessant thrusts into her favorite spot. Mari began to feel herself slipping away, relaxing into tingles of bliss overtaking all of her limbs and giving her the same butterflies she had the very first time she’d kissed him. She could just vaguely make out the sound of him calling her name and asking her something when she remembered he’d asked her to keep her eyes open. He wanted to see her face and she couldn’t deny him what he wanted. Not now, not ever.

Mari reached for him again and he leaned right down into her, foreheads sliding together and his gaze fixated on hers. His eyelids fluttered just as his movements became erratic, pushing himself to stay focused and with her long enough to send her over the edge. 

Mari studied his handsome face as time began to slow and she whispered as quietly as she could, “Cum with me, Rex. Show me what I’ve been waiting for.” 

His cock bumped her spot and he laid into it, pressing himself in and resting there as his muscles locked down and his cock twitched inside her.

“Oh fuck… Mari… I’m going to–Mesh’la, cum with me. Mari–” he moaned her name in his deep, gravelly baritone in her ear and she felt herself snap. 

Light faded away until all Mari knew was the sound of Rex’s voice filling her ears, the feel of his warm release flooding inside her, the taste of his tongue lingering on hers, the scent of him imprinting in her memory, and the visual of the most gorgeous man she’d ever met melting into bliss all around her. 

She sang his name in a salaciously melodic moan. She felt his warmth in her belly and her own release mixing with his as it spilled out of her opening. She glanced up at him in her honeyed haze of pleasure and smiled as she felt herself going totally cockdumb. The pleasure coursing through her veins consuming her was because of him–the beautiful, doting, caring captain she was so sure she’d never hear from again.

He dropped his head into the crook of her neck, their centers still connected as they both let the swell of their highs overtake them. She held the back of his neck gently, tracing featherlight touches like star trails against his nicked and scarred skin. He panted breathless praises and endless compliments in her ears, carefully pulling her up to wrap himself around her exposed body protectively. “Felt… s-so good. I know, Mesh’la. Looked so stunning, too, cumming all for me.”

“Rex,” she muttered much quieter now, her voice hoarse with overuse. “I’ve never felt like that before. Never,” she admitted, averting her eyes to the locked door mere feet from their bare bodies.

He smirked smugly, kissing the tip of her nose and gently slipping out of her. “Thought you said you were experienced,” he teased, as his large hand massaged up the back of her neck, twisting the dark strands at the nape around his fingers. 

Mari basked in the blissful afterglow and relaxed into the calming feeling of his hands working away the last of the remaining tension in her body. She relaxed her legs around his waist and  tucked herself into him. “I am. I never said they were any good. And even if they were, it was nothing like that. That was…”

“I know,” he stopped her, the admission in his eyes giving away his feelings far more than his words did. Whatever the spark was between them, they both felt it. They both understood that this meant something special, and it was worth it to figure out what that feeling was, even if it scared them. 

“I’ve never been with someone who made me feel like you do. Like I’m someone worth feeling something for,” he admitted slowly, discussing his real feelings and exposing a far more apprehensive side to him than the man who had just plowed her the way he had. “How is someone as amazing as you…” He paused, gazing deep into her eyes with nothing but sheer adoration and wonder in his own. “All alone?” he finished, running a very unsure thumb across her cheek.

Mari sighed, looking up at the ceiling of this unused office. She bit her lip to keep her voice steady and to hold back the flow of tears that were dangerously close to spilling over. “Because people… men use me. They always do. And after a while, it’s easier to go it alone than to let them hurt you and take from you anymore.” 

A single tear rolled down her cheek–a painful expression of all the times she’d let herself think someone might care about her, only to throw her away like trash when they were through using her how they liked.

He placed a firm and reassuring palm on her cheek, turning her face to meet his. He wanted to reassure her, to say exactly the right thing to comfort her, and communicate that he was different from the men in her past. He wasn’t like them, but as much as he wanted to shoulder her burden, this type of pain cut him too deep and he looked down almost in disappointment.

“I know what it’s like to feel used,” he whispered, guilt and searing shame at the admission clouding his vision. He was hiding his emotional wounds just as much as she was, if not more. 

Suddenly, Mari felt incredibly stupid and selfish for trying to compare being a little lonely to a man whose very existence was to serve a purpose he had never had a say in. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to act like I had it worse or anything. I just–” she started to say, but his needy hands grabbing at her shoulders and pulling her into a desperate hug quieted her.

“Don’t apologize. It’s something we have in common, you and I,” he muttered, burying his head in her hair and snuggling her tighter. “It’s nice to feel understood by someone outside the GAR. I know I said it before, and I’ve been so nervous I almost ruined it, but I promise I won’t forget about you. I am totally out of my element here, I’ve never done this before and we’re not technically allowed to, but I’d like to keep seeing you… if you want.”

He pulled back to look down at her with the same hopeful amazement on his pretty face that he had the first day they met. Mari reached up to cradle his face in her hands, “I’d like that, Rex. What do you say we get out of this office and you keep seeing me at my place? You’re off for the night, right?” 

Rex nodded. “Yeah, I’m free. I sent you a message earlier to ask you to come out to 79’s with the boys and I. I was hoping I’d see you again there. Guess I don’t have to worry about waiting around for you to show now, huh?”

“I haven’t checked my comm all day, so I guess fate decided we waited long enough,” Mari chuckled, sitting up and pulling Rex up with her. She motioned toward the door and slid down to her feet, searching the office floor for her dress.

Rex hummed in agreement and followed her lead, sliding his underwear and body glove back on and admiring her naked frame as she gathered her dress into her arms. He had nearly his entire armor kit back on before Mari was able to even rearrange her dress enough to step back into it.

“I’ve got nothing to put on under this since you destroyed these,” she flirted, lifting both sides of her torn panties off the floor and tossing them at Rex playfully. 

He caught them in his right hand deftly and laughed darkly. “Good. Now I can recall this image of you naked every time I need it.” He bunched her panties up and tucked them into his pocket, winking at her.

“You filthy boy. Fine, keep them. I’ve got much sexier ones I can show you at home,” Mari tucked the plush of her bottom lip behind her teeth and slipped the dress back on. 

Rex grabbed her hand and spun her around into him, his hand splaying out on her lower back. “Then let’s get you home, Mesh’la. No one’s taking me away from you this time.” He pulled her into a gentle, meaningful kiss to seal his promise with tangible action, and let her lead him the entire way back to her place for the night.

--

notes: AAHHHH ITS THEM!!!! finally we find out how it happens. and god I love them both so much. so much. thank you so much for all your kind messages and support while i've been going through it lately. and of course for all the love I receive for mari and rex. pss my face claim has taken her rightful place in the header photo, so going forward thats our girl.

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@sleepingsun501 @samspenandsword @marierg @ulchabhangorm @liadamerondjarin @wild-karrde @ariadnes-red-thread @enigmaticexplorer @starstofillmydream @fordo-kixed-rex @ladysparklefarts @daimyosprincess

[kaminocasey]

My Trigger

Summary: You and Fives don't exactly make a great first impression.

Pairing: Fives x Medic!Reader

Warnings: 18+ Minors DNI; Angst, Embarrassed Reader

WC: 1.1K

A/N: So, I was writing a Rebels!Rex fic that includes sex on the hood of a speeder and then Fives just popped into my head in only the way that Fives does lol. So here is this. There will be a part two.

Part Two

“Fives, this is our new medic.” Captain Rex tells the arc trooper your name and you smile at him, warmly.

“Nice to meet you.” Fives nods and walks away.

You look up at the Captain, clearly perplexed. He’s obviously confused by Fives’ interaction as well. You’re glad it’s not just in your head. 

You’d been looking forward to meeting Fives, as you’d only ever heard good things about the man. You’d heard he was charming and silly and good company. 

Maybe you just caught him on an off-day, you think to yourself.

A few months later…

You’d gotten used to traversing through the heat of battle, tending to the wounded 501st soldiers. You’d made friends with most of them. Except one… 

“Fives. Sit. Still.” You force the arc trooper down so that you can check his chest wound. 

You could tell he was going to be down for a bit and he was definitely not going to be happy about it. 

You’re at a weird angle, so you straddle his thighs, unclipping his plastoid chest piece so you can peel his shirt off. He gasps in pain and you look up at his face. 

“Pain scale, 1-10?” You ask, pulling your kit off your back and setting it down next to you. 

“Don’t let him tell you it’s only a one.” Echo tells you, trying to lighten the mood. 

You and Echo had become immediate friends, whereas Fives would hardly speak to you. You smile up at Fives’ “twin”. 

“Got it.” You tell Echo as you tend to Fives. “So?”

“So what?” Fives winces as you go over the wound with a bacta spray.

“Pain scale. 1-10.” You look at him only for a second and he’s staring at you for once. You can feel your face go warm and you look down at the wound as you dress it.

“Six. Is sitting in my lap really necessary?” He asks you, trying to situate himself underneath you a little better. 

“Oh… I’m sorry. I was just trying to get a better angle.” You explain, quickly scrambling to get off of him. “Echo will get you to the med tent where Kix can check you out.”

You feel yourself go hot in the face with embarrassment and nod to Echo to help him up. You quickly grab your pack and start heading toward a group of wounded soldiers. You decide right then and there to never go near Fives again. Clearly, the things you’d heard about the man were incorrect.

Present…

You hear obnoxiously loud moaning coming from the women’s bathroom at 79s and you can’t help but roll your eyes, really needing to use the bathroom. You’ve been standing there waiting for what seems like forever, so you decide to walk in and just ignore the couple who clearly couldn’t find a better place.

“Don’t mind me.” You hold a hand up and then accidentally look at the couple fucking against the sink. 

You see Fives buried in some gorgeous twi’lek and feel your lips part in surprise. The warmth immediately floods your face like it always seems to do when you see Fives. 

“Uh, sorry.” You quickly rush back out of the bathroom and then back to the table that various men of the 501st sit at, fumbling for your bag.

“What’s wrong?” Echo asks you. “Where are you going?”

Echo has always been good at picking up when something wasn’t right with you. Right now, you just want to get away from 79s… away from Fives…

“Back to base. I’m tired.” You lie, trying to walk away but not before you hear an angry voice.

“What the hell?” Fives is suddenly near you and you look up at him, embarrassment clear on your face as you avoid his eyes. 

“I’m sorry, Fives. I didn’t mean to-” You try.

“Woah, hey. What happened?” Echo stands up between you and Fives, placing a hand on your shoulder. 

The other 501st guys start tuning into the conversation, clearly concerned. You’re so obviously embarrassed that you just pull away from Echo and walk quickly through the crowd trying to get out of the bar and into the fresh, cool Coruscant air.

You hear your name right before you get into a cab but you don’t turn around. You don’t want Echo to see the tears in your eyes. You don’t want anyone to see you tearing up over Fives. 

“Not now, Echo. I’m sorry.” You’re about to get into the cab.

“Not Echo.” You hear.

Fives.

You turn around to face the man you’d repeatedly embarrassed yourself in front of, unsure of what to say other than…

“I’m sorry…” You murmur. “I didn’t mean to walk in on you buried in some beautiful woman… I just had to pee.” 

You internally groan. How did you make it even weirder? He didn’t need to know that.

Fives chuckles. “I wasn’t ‘buried’ in her… We were just kissing.”

“Her moans seemed to say otherwise.” You let out a humorless chuckle.

“That was the couple in one of the stalls.” He explains.

“Oh…” You feel yourself go warm in the face. “Well, thanks for clearing that up even though you definitely didn’t have to.”

He nods. “I’m sorry for being so…” 

“Dickish?” You offer.

“Yeah,” he chuckles. “Dickish. I’m sorry.” 

“I guess I just… don’t understand why?” You ask him.

He sighs, looking back at the door. 

“Go back to your date. You can tell me another time.” You get into the cab, telling the cabbie to take you to your base. 

“Wait. Please.” Fives places his hands over the open window. “I’m not going back to ‘my date’. She wanted to start a fight with you but I told her to essentially fuck off. I’m going back in to tell Echo that I’m leaving. You know how he gets. Don’t… don’t leave without me, okay?”

You feel your eyebrows go up in surprise. “Um… alright.” 

Fives flashes you a quick smile and then disappears back into 79s as you tell the cabbie to wait a few minutes. He grumbles about keeping the meter running. When Fives comes back a few minutes later, he gets in next to you. You try really hard to not stare at him, so you just look out the window at the Coruscant skyline, but when you sneak a peek at him, he’s smiling at you. You feel your heart start to race slightly and your stomach starts to flutter. 

“What?” You ask him.

“I’m just thinking of all the ways I’m going to make it all up to you.” He shrugs, clearly amused.

You can’t wait to see what he has in store for you. 

TAGS: @livi-s @studioramekin @brynhildrmimi @madameminor @dumfanting @rain-on-kamino @zoeykallus @wolveria @misogirl828 @rexandechosandwich @corona-one @tecker @ladykatakuri @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @twistedstitcher27 @maulslittlemeowmeow @littlemousedroid

[fives-girlfriend]

First Impressions, part 2

The Batch has been assigned a new teammate, much to their reluctance. It seems like the reason behind the deployment has left a sour taste in their mouths.

Read Part 1

Once again, credit to @staycalmandhugaclone for one of the main ideas behind this interaction – you've got THE most deliciously painful plans in your lil head and I'm forever grateful~

Characters: TBB, OC (Asha Kurr)

Warnings: References to character death, mild anxiety attack

Word count: 1,239

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If Asha didn’t know any better, she would say that Echo may have just outright left the facility. Luckily, she did know better – and it was a high chance that he was evading her. She had been making the rounds around the facility – even swallowing her pride and asking around for anyone who may have seen him – and eventually, she had found her way towards the training rooms. If what she knew about Echo was correct, then he was a man of conviction and… mild perfection. Liked to keep himself in top form. She had a feeling she would find him there, if nothing else.

When Asha entered the locker room, there was only one other occupant – her suspicions were correct, it seemed. Here she stood, face-to-face with a very wide-eyed, almost panicked looking Echo. As the door slid closed, neither of them moved. It felt almost like a standoff. Eventually, Asha stepped forward – and her heart sank when she saw just the slightest flinch from the man across from her.

“...hey,” she began quietly, with a small wave of the hand, “I’ve been looking for you. My name’s Asha… the rest of the squad suggested I come find you. I’m… I’m your new mechanic.”

Echo swallowed dryly, composing himself best he could. He stood fully upright, and gave a cordial nod – but it was clear that his mind was elsewhere. “Asha– it- mh. It’s… good to meet you. But I’m afraid that your deployment with us isn’t- isn’t necessary.”

“Echo-” Asha began, struggling to find the words she could use to defend herself. She knew she would meet pushback. Hell, Rex warned her that she would meet pushback. She just… had to figure out how to convey that she was here to help. “I’m not just here for no reason. I’m under recommendation from Captain Rex, and–”

“And I recommend that you seek a different assignment,” Echo quickly snapped back, clearly tense, and it showed in his face that he regretted his words the instant they passed his lips. Asha pressed her lips to a thin line – this was going to be a tough one. She had to think…

“...Echo, I just–”

“Asha. You seem… you seem nice. And I appreciate it. But I really,” Echo held up his hand, palm out, like he was asking her to stop, “don’t need a mechanic.”

"And I don't doubt that. I don't doubt you.”

Asha’s words made him blink, giving him pause. When he didn’t retort, she took that as permission to continue. “I'm here on orders, though, and I'd like to make good on them. So let's at least... see how things go, alright...?"

“Look, no offense or anything, but– but I don’t need any help. I–”

“You know,” Asha suddenly cut in, much to his surprise. She had this… look in her eye. For the briefest of moments, one might even think that it looked remorseful. “I had… I had an old friend, back in one of my other deployments, that told me that very same thing. The moment I showed up to help his unit with their maintenance needs– Maker, I was the butt of every joke. This one trooper… he was relentless. Cocky. So full of himself. Told me time and again, we don’t need your help.”

Asha smiled softly, shifting from foot to foot before she moved to sit down on the locker room bench. Echo made no move to join her. He kept his distance, staring at her, watching her like he wasn’t sure what she’d do next. When he made no comment, she continued.

“...he ended up being one of my best friends, during that deployment with his unit. And… I think… I think he talked about you a lot. Unless there’s some other trooper named Echo that I don’t know about?”

That gave Echo pause. He leaned forward just slightly, inquisitively, with a small tilt of his head. Asha smiled softly… smiled sadly. Echo picked up on that undertone too little, too late, as her lips parted and spoke her next statement.

“Did you know someone named Fives?”

All the air left Echo’s chest as those words rang in his ears. His chest felt tight. Aching. Within that half a second, it felt like a lifetime of weight had crushed down right against his ribs, constricting him, unable to move, unable to think, unable to breathe. Asha could see it – she saw his pallid face somehow go just a touch paler, saw the way his shoulders squared and his whole body tensed. Worry crossed her face, and she sat up, taking a quick breath.

“I’m– I’m sorry, I…”

“...yes.”

Echo’s voice was barely audible, but Asha heard him loud and clear. She quickly shut herself up, looking up at the shaken trooper with an expression asking him to continue.

“...I-I knew… Fives. He was… well, they were all my brothers. But he… he was my brother. He… told you about me, then…?”

The way his voice shook betrayed whatever calm demeanor he was attempting to uphold. But Asha smiled gently, and she nodded.

“He did. Quite a lot, actually. He… he missed you terribly. I had wished time and again that I could’ve met you. I’m… I’m glad that I did. Did get to meet you.”

A beat.

“...both of you.”

That was enough to cause Echo’s breath to hitch, and Asha fell silent. Neither of them made a move – Asha simply sat, almost afraid to breathe for fear of breaking the stillness, and Echo merely stood, not even trembling despite how his breaths sounded ever so slightly haggard. Eventually, after what felt like ages but was likely only about a minute… he sat beside her. Kept distance on the other end of the bench, yes, but he sat with her.

“...you worked with Rex, then?” he asked quietly. “Guess that’s why he recommended you. He… was always a good judge of character.”

“Echo, listen to me. I don’t expect you to trust me. Far from it, actually. What I do ask is that you trust him. Trust his order. Trust that… he sent me for a reason. You don’t have to trust me. You just… have to believe me.”

Echo said nothing. But when he looked up at Asha again from where he had been staring intently at the floor, he gave the slightest of nods, and that made Asha’s heart soar. With a small smile she stood, and Echo followed suit – she nodded her head towards the door when he did.

“Come on, let’s get back to the barracks. I’d like to take a look at you after I get settled in and see what it is we’re working with here. I promise, no invasive procedures, no poking and prodding… just looking. Just so I know how to fix up whatever may get messed up out there.”

Echo didn’t respond, and Asha didn’t blame him. She didn’t blame him when he was silent the entire walk back to the barracks. She didn’t blame him when he didn’t say a word when they returned, nor when they both split off to go do their own thing – Asha setting up a space for herself, and Echo returning to his own bunk. She didn’t mind one bit. But she was sure about one thing, though.

Fives was right about him. And she was so, so glad she finally got to meet him.

[hawkeykirsah]

Writing Masterpost

Under the cut because it’s long!

Star Wars

212th Food Challenge

Brothers (WIP)

The Crystal, the Blade, the Jedi  

Codywan (Obi-Wan Kenobi/Commander Cody):

After the War Is Now (NSFW)

Appreciation, Nothing More

At Any Time, Regardless  (NSFW)

A Chance to Indulge (NSFW)

Chase Your Heart (NSFW)

Chase Your Heart—Snippets (NSFW)

CYH Prompt 1

CYH Prompt 2

CYH Van Sex (NSFW)

Codywanbingo Fill 1, Prompt “Teacher”

Codywanbingo Fill 2, Prompt “Biologist”

Codywan Kiss Bingo Fill 2 (NSFW) (Your Lips On My Skin)

Codywan Kiss Bingo Fill 3 (NSFW) (First Night of Forever)

Codywan Kiss Bingo Fill 4 (Late Night Spar)

Codywan Kiss Bingo Fill 5 (Tatooine Kisses)

Codywan Kiss Bingo Fill 6  (New Year Kisses) 

Codywan Sleep Bingo Fill 1

Codywan Sleep Bingo Fill 2

Dreams Come True  (NSFW)

A Handful of Meetings [And Many More to Come]

Impractical Knowledge (NSFW)

Just the Right Place (To Get a Little Messy)  (NSFW)

Lazy Morning (NSFW)

Shared Release  (NSFW) 

The Things We Learn (or Not) (Codywan Kiss Bingo Fill 1)

Jangobi (Obi-Wan Kenobi/Jango Fett):

Absolute Trust  (NSFW)

Conversations 

Revelations

Obitine (Obi-WanKenobi/Satine Kryze):

Night in Sundari (NSFW)

Observations 

Parallels

Putting Rumors to Rest 

Sometimes, Temptation Wins  (NSFW)

To Take Your Mind Off Things (NSFW)

Rexobi (Obi-Wan Kenobi/Captain Rex):

Summer Sun, Something's Begun

Ventrobi (Obi-Wan Kenobi/Asajj Ventress):

Under Twin Suns (WIP)

Breha Organa/Obi-Wan Kenobi/Bail Organa:

A Proper Apology  (NSFW)

Obi-Wan Kenobi/Quinlan Vos/Asajj Ventress:

Good Use For a Silver Tongue   (NSFW)

Mass Effect

Shenko (Commander Shepard/Kaidan Alenko)

After Omega  (NSFW)

A Hamster Called Han

April 11, 2194  (NSFW)

Bound  (NSFW)

Close Call  (NSFW)

Khalisah the Snapping Eel

The Long Road (NSFW, WIP)

Lost Time  (NSFW)

Morning Glimpse

Panic Attack

Physical  (NSFW)

Scars

Shore Leave  (NSFW)

Someday

Special 

Thunderstruck  (NSFW)

Shenga (Allegra Shepard/Kaidan Alenko/James Vega):

Action figure

Breakfast

Homecoming (NSFW)

Hold Me

Let Me Show You  (NSFW)

First Kiss

Under the Stars

Venko (Kaidan Alenko/James Vega):

Hot Mystery Guy (NSFW)

The Only Man For Me  (NSFW)

Other:

Rumors (A Conrad Verner ficlet)

That’s What Friends Are For (Kaidan Alenko & Ashley Williams)

through memories they rise (drabble, gen)

Unrequited Affections (A Conrad Verner ficlet; Shenko implied)

Top Gun

Icemav (Tom “Iceman” Kazansky/Pete “Maverick” Mitchell):

a pleasant surprise

With A Little Help From Your Friends

Call of Duty

Soapghost (John “Soap” MacTavish/Simon “Ghost” Riley)

Body and Soul

[spilledkauffie]

🤍 Nurse of the 501st — Preface

Pairing: Captain Rex x FemaleNurse!Reader (ft. the 501st) Word Count: 4.1k T/W: fluffy ☁️A/N: happy 5/01 day and welcome to a little series I’ll be updating every now and then! All parts will be able to be read solo or together!

Reader is assigned to the 501st as their main nurse; already knowing Kix she’s welcomed into the group pretty easily. Still intimidated about meeting Rex, the boys try and make her feel more at ease in her new situation, which helps once she learns Rex isn’t as scary as she thought he’d be.

Preface / Injured / 79's / Orphanage / Suit Up / Taken (pt.1)

↳ m a i n m a s t e r l i s t

“Remember, they are your team, your family, and your friends,” Jedi Master Rig Nema told you in the elevator.

“Do I have to leave the hospital wing so soon?” you asked, shoulders slumped as you stared o the elevator floor.

“So soon?” Master Nema gave a silvery laugh, “it’s been years, and Kix asked for your transfer personally, which means they need more medical help. You’ll be doing a great service to many people.”

Taking a deep breath you nodded, meeting her eyes, “I know, Kix has been a great friend to me, I’m honoured that he’d request me, but…I just don’t know if I’ll fit in with them; I’m not a soldier, I’m not a hero, I’m not even a Jedi.” 

“You don’t need to be,” Master Nema set a hand on your shoulder maternally, dipping down to talk to you as her species was much taller than the average human, “you just need to let them know that you are there to help in any way you can, respect and experience will get you far with Captain Rex.”

She encouraged a nod out of you, but you were still anxious, sad, and scared all at the same time, had you been a Jedi you knew you’d be scolded for it, but you weren’t so you felt every emotion as it hit you. You’d never been on a trooper cruiser, you’d never been in action, you’d never been off Coruscant, the whole experience was overwhelming. Everyone on board seemed to have a routine and you had no idea where you fit in. While you were looking around the hallway, trying to get a glimpse of open doorways, Master Nema repressed a chuckle at your childlike curiosity.

“Ah, Master Nema,” you straightened up and snapped your gaze forward at hearing the familiar voice. 

A smile broke out across your face, “Kix!” 

He greeted you with a wave as you approached, “always good to see you, Master.”

“Likewise, Kix,” Master Nema bowed, “I am honoured that you requested my…student.”

The pause stung, you knew what she wanted to say and you knew what you had wanted to hear. Padawan. It was something forever out of your reach. As much as you tried to push past the fact that you were now far too old to even be considered a Padawan, it was something you forever wanted.

“Well, I only wanted the best,” Kix tilted his head to subtly wink at you. It made you smile, Kix went through medical training with you, and even though his program was accelerated and he was sent off to the 501st, he still kept in contact with you, which you greatly appreciated. 

“And the best you shall have,” Master Nema put a hand on your back, softly pushing you forward, “I know she will do great things.”

Now standing beside Kix, the sense of anxiety returned. 

“I cannot stay long, and I understand you will be underway soon,” Master Nema stated, noting your furrowed brows, “I will always be in contact should you need me, but I have every faith you will be just fine.” Kix shifted, knowing that she was largely talking to you, but trying to avoid attachment at the same time. Sharing one last glance she nodded to you, “Goodbye,” Master Nema bowed to you respectfully, “and may the force be with you.”

You wanted to call out saying ‘Master, wait,’ but you never earned the privilege to call her such, all you could manage was, “and with you,” bowing likewise and watching her head for the elevator to take her back to the hangar floor. She’d be back at the Jedi temple and you’d be off somewhere unknown to you. It felt like your heart had lost a piece.

“It’s really great to see you again,” Kix suddenly spoke, snapping you out of your gaze.

“Oh, yeah, you too Kix,” you stumbled, trying not to show your teary eyes.

Kix noticed you swiftly lift your hand to wipe away some tears, but opted not to say anything, knowing we all deal with sadness in our own way, instead he offered some words that would cheer you up, “you’re not alone,” he placed a gentle hand to the top of your shoulder and gave you a most sincerely look, “follow me, I’ve got plenty of brothers I want you to meet.”

Nodding, you put on a smile and followed him a little way down the corridor until it opened up into a large common room. There were clones everywhere; it made you smile at how unique they all looked. It was so different from some of the reports that made them all sound the same. Tattoos, scars, haircuts, and armour modifications made practically all of them identifiable from each other. You took in the room, seeing a dartboard on the side of the wall with a group playing. “You couldn’t even hit a clanker if it was three feet in front of you,” one teased another who was losing at the game, “how on earth have you managed to survive this war?”

On the other side of the room, you saw one with his nose in a book and a handprint on his armour, while another with a 5 tattooed was trying to talk to him. Kix let you observe for a moment longer and amused himself at your facial expressions when observing their occupations. 

“Aye, Kix’s back,” one called out, “let’s meet the new shiny-”

They all came to attention and just as fast halted, seeing your figure standing next to Kix. You wore an outfit that was somewhere between a Kaminoan nurse uniform and a Jedi’s undergarment. Mostly white, with hints of blue, the uniform had the signature Kaminoan half skirt and pants with a metal belt that hugged the curve of your hips tightly with a blue gem in the centre, while the top half resembled a Jedi’s under tunic, fitted everywhere except for the sleeves, which flared out at your wrists. It had been gifted to you in order to match the colours of your new squad, but it was still a uniform you were familiar with as it had hints indicating your medical status, but clearly, the clones weren’t familiar with it at least not on a female human figure.

You waited for someone to say something, eventually looking to Kix, who was still amused, now by his own brother’s reactions. Finally, Kix spoke, “alright, you gawkers,” he clapped his hands, but their expressions didn’t change, “this is our new squad nurse, I’ve worked with her several times before and she’s the best of the best, she trained with Jedi Master Rig Nema on Coruscant,” Kix glanced around, rolling his eyes, looking to you and winking, he added, “and she’s force sensitive, mind-reader, so watch your thoughts!” With that they all snapped to attention, looking at Kix with an anxious expression.

“No, no,” you lifted your hands, concerned with how worried they looked, “I’m not a Jedi, so I can’t do those kinds of things.” You were partially lying, but you wanted them to feel at ease around you, not constantly worrying that you were reading their deepest darkest thoughts. 

“So, you’re from Coruscant, you’re force-sensitive, and you trained with a master, but you’re telling us you’re not a Jedi?” 

“Easy Fives,” Kix said, turning to you, knowing your past, “you don’t have to tell them anything if you don’t want to.” 

Thinking it over for a moment, you pushed your lips together, giving Kix a look that you were okay, he turned back to face the company, “I’m not a Jedi,” you started, “and I’m not from Coruscant either. I was identified as force sensitive when I was a very small child, I was taken to the Jedi Temple, but…I failed the entry tests; I was too scared, too emotional, and empathetic according to them. It weakened my connection with the force in the way the Jedi look for it, especially now with the war.”

“So why didn’t you get to go home?” the clone with a handprint on his chest plate asked with more sympathy in his voice than his counterpart. 

Taking a deep breath, you began to feel a little more at ease as you told your story, “Master Nema felt that I could be of great assistance as a medic alongside her in the Jedi hospital wing. So, she let me stay, she trained me to be a nurse, how the force can be used as a kind of medicine, a detector, and an aid. Despite never being able to be a Jedi, I grew up in the temple, but I was never…well, that’s not very interesting, but that’s most of my story,” you concluded with a smile.

The clones took to you quickly, they began asking questions about your time on coruscant and of training in the Jedi medical wing. It made you happy that they were so interested. 

“Ma’am have you ever worked on General Skywalker?” A clone asked, trying hide his smile.

“Oh yes,” you admitted, knowing he was their general, “let me tell you he’s a squirmer, I can’t get him to stay still for the life of me.”

The troops erupted with laguhter, which made you smile, feeling more and more a member of their family by the moment. After a few more questions, a command came over the intercom, Kix told you that you might want to find a seat, the cruiser was going into hyperdrive. You hadn’t even realised that it’d left the bay or the planet, which startled you a little. Nodding, you found a seat on the windowsill, you wanted to see first-hand what it looked like, having never been off-world. 

You saw Coruscant as a little planet beneath the cruiser, for a few moments it just got smaller and smaller, until the stars stretched around you and blurred your vision of the planet, before turning into swirls of blue and black. Just like that, it was gone, you raised a hand to the window, a heavy exhale leaving you. You felt like a child leaving their mother for the first time, you knew you were stronger than this, but nothing could prepare you from leaving the only place you’d ever called home. 

“You alright?” A voice asked behind you. 

Turning in your makeshift seat on the windowsill, you looked up, “oh, yes, thank you,. . . um, Fives, was it?”

“That’s me,” he said proudly, sitting opposite from you, “so, never been away from home?” You nod in response, “well, don’t worry, we all kind of know what that’s like, with Kamino and all, but we manage and I bet you will too.”

“Thank you, Fives,” you tilt your head to rest it softly against the window watching the stars, there was a comfortable pause between the two of you, he already felt like a best friend, “hey Fives, how’d you all get your names if you don’t mind me asking?”

Setting his helmet down, he began to explain that it was just something all clones did before leaving Kamino, it was a way of having some individuality in the legion. He was kind enough to actually identify everyone in the room for you, sometimes he broke into a little story about why someone had that name, like Echo. Eventually, they realised what was going on and some came to personally introduce themselves to you.

“We should give you one!” a clone shouted out after Fives finished introducing you to everyone.

“But I already have a name,” you shrug, wondering why they’d suggest it.

“Yeah, but now you’re in the five-o’-first, you’re one of us,” Fives gave you a smirk that made you blush a little.

“Yeah, okay!” you agreed enthusiastically after they all chimed in reasons you should have one.

After a few good laughs about suggested names, they finally settled on one despite your hesitation and objection, they insisted that it suited you, so you complied. Asking if this was the ship you’d be on the majority of the time, you decided to familiarise yourself with the passages and rooms. Kix offered to take you to the medical bay a little later but could sense that you wanted some time alone to take everything in. Kix literally had to stop a group that offered to show you around.

The halls were big and bright, you liked how clear the instructions you’d received were; it was a whole layout of the ship, the only problem was that it was a tiny hologram picture projected from your wristlet. You’d never had one before, always familiar with a pad or screen, but since you were going to be on the ground and out in the field they needed a more compact version for you.

“Okay…,” you were staring down at the little projection, “so if I’m here…then I need to go- oof!” 

You’d run right into the back of someone. Taking a step back, you were prepared to apologize profusely, mildly embarrassed that you hadn’t been watching where you were going, but the figure turned around and you went silent. He was a clone, but there was a presence you’d never felt before when you met his eyes. 

“Careful there, girly,” his deep strong voice said softly and kindly.

“So-so sorry, sir,” you managed, “I’m not familiar with this layout and I’ve never been on a ship before.” 

“Ah, a shiny aye?” Rex raised an eyebrow and smirked, it wasn’t condescending in fact it felt more flirtatious. You smiled slowly, trying to repress the blush rising, Rex chuckled, ‘a little flirting wasn’t a bad thing’ he told himself, assuming you were probably just being transported and he’d never see you again, “let me see where you’re headed, I’m sure I can help.”

Bringing your wrist in front of you, Rex moved beside you, examining the map, hand on his chin. You were distracted by his proximity, you not so subtly looked over to observe his profile. Although you’d seen it before, he was different and you couldn’t explain why. You softly smiled noticing his short blonde hair, a personal modification. You could also smell a signature cologne that was different from everyone else’s. As your eyes came back down you were noticing just how much of his neck was exposed without the helmet on. A smirk came across Rex’s lips, he shifted his eyes over to you for only a moment, returning to the hologram. “You really should work on keeping your eyes where they need to be,” Rex said, knowing it’d fluster you. 

Lips parting with a shock at your own behaviour, you stared forward, uncertain how to respond, chest now rising and falling far more obviously than you wanted it to be. There was a burning blush on your cheeks that even you couldn’t repress. 

Straightening back up, Rex pointed to a box on the projection, “you’re headed here, it’s the hangar bay, I assume you’ll find your transport there; we’ll be prepping for a mission soon, so I’m sure you’ll get your instructions for departure there. And if you need any more help before then…just find me.” Rex winked.

“Oh right- yes, of course, right,” you fumbled, still feeling embarrassed, “thank you so much, I- I will be sure to tell Captain Rex how helpful you were.” 

Rex tilted his head amused as he watched you quickly walk away, shocked that you had no idea you were talking to Rex the entire time. 

When you found your way to the hangar bay, you met up with Kix and the 501st. There was a routine squad check before you were sent on your mission. So, you fell in line with the rest of them once it was announced the Captian was present. You swallowed harshly, eyebrows furrowing up together, fiddling with your fingers behind your back as you stood amidst the rows of the 501st. Kix looked over to you with a subtle reassuring smile, to which you tried to convincingly returned, not wanting him to think any less of you just because you’d never seen action and that you were anxious that this Captain Rex would be like a drill sergeant because you were a “shiny” as they called it. 

‘If only the clone I met earlier were the captain, he was so sweet and nice, and-’ Lost in your thoughts you stared down at the floor across from where you stood, biting the inside of your lip you questioned if this was the right call, if you were cut out for this, did any of them really like you, what if Rex– it was then that you realized you were the only one with your head down instead of snapped into attention. Looking up and to your left swiftly, you saw Rex making his way towards you, his signature Jaig eyes markings were far more intimidating than you imagined. You held your head high and tried to mimic the clones around you even though you stuck out like no tomorrow. Rex had been simply and quietly walking past them, but your throat tightened when he stopped a few paces after you and retrace his steps, walking backwards.

“What are you doing here?” Rex asked, placing his hands on his utility belt with commanding ease. 

“Well, I’m,” you began, trying to read his expression, but it was nearly impossible with his helmet on, “I’m the squad’s nurse.” 

“We already have a medic,” he countered, really asking for you to divulge more information.

“Yes, but-”

“I requested for her transfer, sir,” Kix joined in, still staring straight ahead as he spoke like his training encouraged, especially while speaking out of line, meanwhile you and Rex simultaneously looked over to the clone defending you.

“Why?” Rex questioned, his tone not mad, nor upset, he was just looking for an honest answer. 

“I need the extra hands, and she has abilities none of us have which are most beneficial medically,” Kix continued, “she’s the best I’ve ever seen, sir, and I have confidence she’ll save many lives.”

Rex slowly tilted his head to meet your gaze which was switching between the two men in uniform eagerly, “I see. I trust your judgement Kix,” the Captain concluded.

You released a breath you’d been holding but sharply inhaled when Rex moved to stand directly in front of you. Straightening up once again, you looked up, an anxious look still across your face. Rex lifted his hands and removed his helmet, tucking it under his forearm and holding it against his side. You met his eyes; jaw nearly dropping, lips parting and eyes widening, you recognized him immediately. Blinking you waited, knowing that if you spoke it’d be “out of line,” as he outranked you and he hadn’t asked you another question. You panicked thinking how disrespectful you’d been not to address him as Captain easier in the hallway.

“Welcome to the Five-o-first,” Rex gave a half-smile, lifting his hand to shake yours.  

Staring down at his open hand, a soft smile spread across your face. Happily, you brought your hand to meet his, and glanced up, truly meeting his gaze again, your smile caused your eyes to squint a little as you spoke through it, “thank you…Captain, I’m glad to be in such company.” 

Rex’s expression softened, and the tough, firm Captain attitude briefly faded, his face relaxed when he looked at you. In that moment, he didn’t treat you like another soldier, instead of a hard handshake, he automatically tilted your hand, his caressing yours from underneath, thumb pressed gently across your knuckles. He wasn’t sure where it came from or how he learned it, he’d only ever seen it when Anakin helped Senator Amidala down steep stairs, or out of a cruiser. Rex caught himself staring down at your hand in his, he carefully pulled his hand back from yours, not harshly, just suddenly, subtly shaking himself out of it, he looked at you once again.

“Well, yes, we should get…going,” he said, placing his helmet back on and continuing his inspection of troops.

You followed his path with your eyes, even leaning forward, head striking out from between the line of clones to watch him as far as you could.

“I think he liked you,” Kix playfully elbowed your arm as he looked down to you.

Leaning back into proper position, you smiled to yourself for more than one reason, before answering, “you think so?” 

“I’d say,” another voice chimed in from your other side, it was Fives, he was one clone down from you and there was a slight amusement in his tone, “I’ve never seen the captain so stunned.” 

“Stunned?” You lifted an eyebrow pondering that word, “oh, then I’m not so sure-”

“Trust us,” Echo, who was directly beside you, placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder, “we mean it in a good way; I’ve never seen him look at someone the way he looked at you, so take that as a good omen.”

Nodding to them, you could tell the line had been dismissed as Jesse came over to your little group from where he stood across the aisle, “See, not so scary, is he? What’d he say to you?”

While you and Kix began explaining the encounter to a few more clones who joined the conversation, Fives and Echo were waved over by Rex. As they left, it caught your attention; looking over your shoulder, you saw Rex standing with arms crossed, staring straight at you. His gaze made you quickly look forward once again despite the fact that his helmet was on, it felt strong.

“Sir?” Fives and Echo said in time, nodding to their superior. 

Rex hesitated before pulling his stare away from you, “what do you know about her?” he asked them, not particular about who answered. 

Fives exchanged a look with Echo and began, “well, she’s force sensitive-”

“A Jedi?” Rex interrupted with a frustrated tone, already drawing assumptions that you were undercover and they left him out of the plan.

“No, sir,” Echo hastened, “they identified her, but…she didn’t pass the entry exams when she was a child.”

“Ah,” was all that came from beneath Rex’s helmet.

“She trained under Jedi Master Doctor Rig Nema for her medical training though,” Fives added, “so who knows what tricks she might’ve still picked up. Could be quite useful in battle.”

“I’m not making her fight in our battle,” Rex said plainly.

“She’s coming with us though, isn’t she?” Echo asked, momentarily confused.

“She is,” Rex nodded, “but she chose the life of a medic, she’s a healer, not a soldier.”

“But Kix-”

“Is one of us,” Rex finished Fives’ thought for him. Seeing the troopers’ confusion, he removed his helmet to talk to them face-to-face, in a quieter tone he explained, “Kix is our brother, he was born and bred for battle, then he was medically trained. She’s not a soldier, she has abilities we don’t understand, but that doesn’t mean she should be forced to use them in war, she wasn’t trained like the generals,” Rex looked between the two, “understood?” 

Fives and Echo again exchanged a look, now understanding what he meant as they looked over to you, bright eyes filled with an eagerness to learn about the trooper lifestyle, but an innocence that was soon going to be lost to war. 

“Yes, sir,” they responded. 

“Good,” Rex nodded, ending the discussion, about to put his helmet on when Fives coughed to grab his attention.

“What- uh, what do you think of her, Sir?” 

Echo gave an eye roll, not impressed with Fives’ attempt at subtlety.

“What do I think of her?” Rex repeated, raising an unamused eyebrow. He knew what they were asking, but for now, he wanted to avoid the feeling that had stayed in the pit of his stomach since he first saw you. 

“Well, all the men have given her a nickname so she feels a bit more like one of us,” Fives continued, “they decided on Angel,” Fives glanced to Echo when he noticed Rex staring in your direction again, “they picked it because she’s been so nice to us all, and she’s a nurse, so healing and all, and well maybe…” he paused, “some of them fancy she looks like one, you know from the moon of Iego?”

There was a part of Rex that was amused by the fact that his men were already falling for you and a part that related. Rex wasn’t sure what it was about you, but the gravity you had seemed to pull him in immediately. Everything in his life had been accelerated, his age, his training, his entrance into the war, he began to wonder if his emotions were too.

“I ‘s’ppose it does,” Rex smiled.

[genshin-impact-fics]

Streamer!Genshin Meeting Character!(Y/n) for the First Time

Characters: Scaramouche, Childe, Albedo, Kaeya, Venti

Scaramouche:

His viewers were constantly requesting that he play this game that’s been out for a little while now that was called Genshin Impact. So he finally gave in to see what all the talk was about

Getting through the tutorial and the first part of the chapter felt so long; visually it was beautiful as the story was pretty decent so far.

It wasn’t until he got to Liyue in the archon quest that things seemed to pick up for him. The character who saved him from almost getting arrested kind of irked him; it reminded him of his one roommate who was a rich kid type.

It wasn’t till the release of the event Unreconciled Stars that once again many of his followers flooded his messages telling him he needed to play the event during his streams so they could see his reaction to meeting a new character.

Curiosity peaked after hearing a bit that the character would be an electro catalyst. Which he started to play it instead of holding off for a few days; honestly he really wasn’t expecting much

It was until he finally saw you appear; he was a bit surprised as you weren’t exactly how he pictured you yet you looked cute but in a cool way? A little more of the interaction he’s a little on the fence on how he feels about you but he was interested in where this event was going, there was something just a little bit… off

Progressing he was a little bit bummed since he thought there would have been a bit more interaction with you. That was until he was back in Mondstadt with Mona who was helping solve this mystery when pleasantly surprised that you’ve showed up. Until Mona seemed to have some sort of revelation that caused her to teleport them all out of there

Needless to say he wasn’t happy that he was taken away from seeing you. “Excuse me you bring me back,” was his initial reaction but continued to watch when it was more clear that you were there to kill him. You were that other harbinger; number six of the fatui harbingers and the moment you snapped at one of the agents, you had instantly become one of his absolute favorites.

Childe:

Though his viewers have been requesting to play the soon released game Genshin Impact he has actually been long awaiting for this game.

To celebrate the release it was going to be a long stream as he’s stocked up on water and energy drinks and snacks. He’s definitely planning to do a giveaway for his viewers (though he won’t bring it up until he finally unlocks the wishing feature)

He enjoyed the plot so far as the conflict with Dvalin has been resolved but now the ameno archon’s gnosis was stolen by some woman who appeared out of nowhere. Soon to learn about the fatui group and their eleven harbingers

Off to Liyue at long last! There’s been chatter of one character that shows up fairly early in the quest and he is very curious to encounter whoever this character was

He was finally at the part where Rex Lapis came crashing down from the sky dead and now was sneaking to get to the exit. Definitely took him a couple of times and in the process of it all he was certainly singing the whole “Don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious” song

Finally getting the cutscene where his character gets chased after unfortunately making sound. When things looked like it was going to turn into a fight he was surprised when hearing a new voice say “I got this one sweetie”. His mouth has dropped in pure awe of watching your character flip from above appearing out of thin air as you handled the Millelith with ease

Hearing you say follow me he had such a grin on his face; “Don’t gotta ask me twice I’ll follow you anywhere”. Of course his viewers in chat were raving and just spamming the laughing emote as the cutscene continued in a safe place

Looking at your character model admiring you as the reveal that you were a part of the harbingers but seemed to be rather friendly. “You guys I’m in love. (Y/n) better be a playable character at some point… I’ll be sad if I don’t get to travel the world with them” he says as when he finds out you're rich his initial thought was “So are they going to spoil me or do I get to spoil them? Cuz I really want it to be the second one” He hadn’t known you for long but he already wants to give you the world

Venti:

He was mainly known for his streams where he’ll sing or perform some of the instruments he enjoys and many of the games he’d play were a lot of rhythm games or one of the hilarious simulator games; so for him to pick up Genshin Impact it’s a little outside of the typical games he’ll usually play

He really loves the music so far, if the music wasn’t to his liking he’d probably drop it. Will probably take a moment to just listen to it and talk about what possible instruments used to compose it

After running around the world and looking for chests and whatever materials he saw along the way. He suddenly saw the big dragon fly over head and now making his way to the whispering woods to look for the feathered looking dragon

The cut scene started and there was the dragon on a rock but then he saw you; he doesn’t know anything about you but having seen you in some of the images that the company released he’s been interested in your character!

During your moment with your old friend had was making this face 🥺 but then that was when the snapping sound echoed causing the dragon to freak out and leave in a gust of wind. “Noooo I’m so sorry” he’s shouting at the screen when he watched the expression on your face turn sad before you seemed to just vanish

Has been bummed out since he hadn’t seen your character in a while until he saw you running with a lyre in your hand, he only fell in more love with you as he was running around with you trying to get the holy lyre from the church

Albedo:

It had been a while since more of the story was out but of course he’d play to do his commissions and gather materials he needed, but when his viewers showed him the announcement of the newest section of the map will be released; oh there was a new temperature mechanic that if it was too cold that his characters could freeze to death

Generally that would be fine… but he enjoys stopping and admiring the scenery which he easily gets distracted so he’s probably going to keep forgetting to stand by fire a lot

But the best part of all: they were introducing you, the chief alchemist of the Knights of Favonius. The one that was talked about by so many characters in their voice lines he finally was going to get a face to the name

He was already not liking that the so called ‘nun’ was insinuating that you weren’t trustworthy; the AUDACITY! Sure he hadn’t known your character long but he will defend you wholeheartedly, you have this charismatic to you that he’s just smitten

“If one day, I lose control… Destroy Mondstadt… Destroy everything… Can I rely on you to stop me?” After hearing that last line he needs a minute to take a double take to make sure he heard that correctly. “I swear if this is some sort of indication of something bad happening and I have to fight (y/n) I will not be happy,” he’s saying of course looking to his camera

Kaeya:

So many of his viewers were requesting that he play Genshin Impact as of course it would be a little different from the games he’s played in the past (Ya can’t tell me he wouldn’t have played Huniepop and doki doki literature club), but the idea of attractive characters in the game? He’s sold as the few characters he saw pictures of it seemed promising.

So he starts streaming it and all is going smoothly so far… Until it was time to learn about gliding right before Stormterror attacks and the mini flying fight happened

Once the cutscene starts he’s watching leaning back in his chair a bit until a clapping sound starts and that’s when everyone in chat was losing it and spamming the heart eyes emotes. Seeing you come into the shot he’s got a small little smirk; you were hot. He only seemed to love your character even more after hearing that you were the cavalry captain

When it came time to do your trail quest (which of course was the first one he went to do) he’s very much looking at your design and admiring your charming features. He asks his viewers if he leaves the domain if he gets to keep you or if you were one of the five stars that he’d have to wish for, spoilers don’t really bother him if he really wants to know what happens.

Seeing your summon art once he left he’s ecstatic that you will be forever in his team and once he’s able to he’s going farming so he can build you up

[thefact0rygirl]

september fic recs

A big shout-out and forehead smooch to everyone who submitted recs! May you always have the cold side of the pillow and have endless green lights 💖

Be sure to show your love and appreciation with reblogs, nice comments, and likes/kudos! I guarantee it will put a big, goofy smile on the author’s face.

These are in no particular order

Be sure to check the tags and warnings on fics before reading

If you’re under 18, do NOT interact with any fics rated Explicit 18+

Fics marked with a ✨ were sent in as recommendations. All recs are anonymous

Ratings with an asterisk (*) indicate the OP didn’t provide a rating and this is my best guess

happy reading!

ahsoka tano & riyo chuchi

✨ Friends in Cold Places by @notreallybeccab | Rating: G

alpha-17

✨ Gar Cabur by @wanderinginksplot | Rating: G*

arc trooper echo

✨ Marked by @saradika | Rating: Explicit 18+

the bad batch

Childhood by @moonstrider9904 | Rating: G*

boba fett

✨ The Hand that Feeds by @interstellarwraith | Rating: T

✨ When Light Meets Matter by @msfett | Rating: Explicit 18+

If You’re Leaving by @forever-rogue | Rating: G*

Reuniting with Boba by @fandom-blackhole | Rating:G*

Veman’alor by @galacticgraffiti | Rating: Explicit 18+

boba fett x din djarin

✨ Don’t You Ever Do That Again! by @spaceydragons​ | Rating: T*

captain howzer

howzie and his love for tits by @babyhowzer | Rating: Explicit 18+

captain rex

✨ By Any Other Name & What Blooms In Thunder by @rowansparrow | Rating: Explicit 18+*

✨ Bolts and Blasters by theboldsnake (ao3) | Rating: M

✨ Calm After the Storm by @notreallybeccab​ | Rating: T

✨ Illicit Affairs by @book-of-baba-fett | Rating: Explicit 18+*

✨ No Thought by @mintywriteswritings | Rating: G*

The Necklace by @triptuckers | Rating: T*

captain gregor

✨Spotless Mind by @eyecandyeoz | Rating: Explicit 18+

commander cody 

✨ At What Cost by @notreallybeccab | Rating: T

Untitled by @zinzinina | Rating: Explicit 18+

commander fox

✨ blank by @purgetrooperfox | Rating: T

✨ guess it just wants to die by @purgetrooperfox | Rating: T

✨ Stress Relief by @fett-djarin | Rating: Explicit 18+

the lamp prompt by @loth-wolffe​ | Rating: G*

Untitled by @ashotofspotchka | Rating: Explicit 18+

commander wolffe

✨ Death’s Bitter Knock by allisgalaxy (ao3) | Rating: M

✨ second chances by @beehacked | Rating: Explicit 18+

Biting by @rebelpitstop | Rating: Explicit 18+

Intimacy by @stargazingthenightaway | Rating: Explicit 18+

Pumpkin Spiced Bullshit by @starlightrows | Rating: G*

multiple clones

✨ Well Deserved Break by @notreallybeccab | Rating: T

On The Flip Side by Wamers (ao3) | Rating: M*

The Commanders and the Captain by @rebelpitstop | Rating: Explicit 18+

crosshair

✨ In Perfect Light by @interstellarwraith | Rating: T

✨ I Won’t Leave and Rain by @14mcmd1122 | Rating: Explicit 18+

Sun-Kissed by @ct-crosshair | Rating: T*

din djarin 

✨ Good Little Girl by @star-whores-a-new-hoe | Rating: Explicit 18+*

✨ nighthawks by @pedros-mustache | Rating: Explicit 18+

Wreckage by @the-scandalorian | Rating: M

din djarin x fennec shand

✨ The Children of Mandalore by @novemberrain221 | Rating: Explicit 18+

eli vanto

✨ Blueberries and Cowboys by @masterjedilenawrites​ | Rating: T

grand admiral thrawn

✨ Blueberries and Cowboys by @masterjedilenawrites | Rating: T

Untitled ficlet by @milf-thrawn-nuruodo | Rating: Explicit 18+

hardcase

✨ Long Awaited Reunion by @notreallybeccab | Rating: G*

wishful thinking by @mysteryhacked | Rating: T

hunter

✨ Dust in the Wind by @crab-instruments | Rating: T

✨ Hunter x GN!Reader by @kirinpl​ | Rating: G*

maul 

✨ Inky Black by @bacarasbabe | Rating: Explicit 18+*

maul x reader x savage

✨ She Breathes Fire by @grinningnexu | Rating: Explicit 18+

obi-wan kenobi

✨ Distracted by @stardust-kenobi | Rating: Explicit 18+*

paz vizsla 

✨ Helping Hands by @galacticgraffiti | Rating: Explicit 18+

✨ Finding a Home by BunnyFair (ao3) | Rating: M

poe dameron

✨ The Weightlessness of Safety by @lightsinthedistancee | Rating: T*

savage opress

✨ The Fanged God Walks by @darthsomethingsomething | Rating: Explicit 18+

shaak ti

Untitled by @lesbobiwan | Rating: Explicit 18+

tech

✨ Welding by @colorfulloverbatturkey | Rating: G*

✨ Mission’s End by @twistedstitcher27 | Rating: Explicit 18+

✨Submit Your Recs!✨

Have a fic you really enjoyed? Did you see some fan art that spoke to your soul? Or did you create something that you’re proud of? Send it in! Shoot me an ask, dm, or tag me in the post and I’ll be sure to include it in next months recommendations 🥰 In the meantime, consider liking and reblogging their work! Interaction is key.

[wanderinginksplot]

Hi! Coul you do a Hunter x Jedi FemReader fluff. Myybe They are reunited after a long time and they hang out in secret.

Hey! It took a few days, but here’s where this prompt took me:

Hunter + Jedi F!Reader + Fluff

“Steady!”

“Watch the far side - it’s tipping!”

“We need another few troopers over here to help balance it!”

“It’s too heavy!”

“Stop, men,” you ordered, your calm voice cutting through the clamor with ease. “Let me get it.”

Lifting the heavy crate with the Force was simple, one of the first things you had learned to do in the Temple. From there, transporting it to the correct section of the hangar wasn’t any more difficult, and you accomplished the task with ease.

“Still showing off, General?” a rough voice asked from just behind your ear.

You turned around, already smiling at the familiar face. “Sergeant Hunter,” you greeted. “I had no idea you were on-planet.”

He shrugged, the movement flowing with grace that would have made even a Jedi jealous. “We picked up a new member for the Batch. We needed to have him cleared on Coruscant before we could risk taking him into action.”

“And?” you asked, already thinking about how you could help. Force-healing wasn’t your strong suit, but you could pull a few strings to get the right padawan to the GAR headquarters. If Hunter needed something, you would do everything in your power to get it for him. He had saved your life often enough to deserve that dedication from you.

“And he’ll be fine,” Hunter reassured you. Gesturing to the flurry of men working to unload your gunships - each one painted with a flattering caricature of your profile with a lightsaber held out in front of you - he asked, “How did the mission go?”

You shrugged. “It went as well as can be expected, I suppose.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means- Well, it…” you sighed. “This war never seems to have a true victory. There are always losses, and those sacrifices don’t always make sense given what little is accomplished in return.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow. “That’s what we’re made for. Sacrificing.”

You hated hearing that, no matter how often it had been repeated by the Kaminoans, the GAR, and the Jedi Council. These men weren’t a product and their lives weren’t something they should expect to lose simply because they had been created rather than born. They had names and personalities, painted their armor with patterns in your favorite color, and some troopers even asked for permission to use your handprint in their designs. Hunter’s casual defense of what you saw as the fatal flaw of the Jedi Order made your stomach lurch and your spirits drop.

“So they keep telling me,” you agreed, mustering a smile for Hunter. “It was a pleasure seeing you, Sergeant. It has been far too long.”

"Wait," Hunter called and you paused in turning away. "What did I say?"

His earnest question only served to make you feel worse. "Nothing, Hunter. The problem seems to be with me. I just need some time away from the war, the loss."

Hunter's eyes cut a neat contrast against the darkness of his tattoo. "I can't help much, but how about some time spent with an old friend?"

"I have to go make my report to the Council," you hedged.

"After that, then," Hunter suggested. "I'm not gonna twist your arm about it, but you're the one who said it's been too long since we saw each other."

You gave a small smile at that. "That's true. Meet me at Dex's Diner tonight?"

"Comm me when you're leaving the Temple," Hunter instructed, giving a respectful nod as the two of you parted. 

As soon as you had finished with your report and washed the grime of a long mission from your skin, you contacted Hunter and started your journey to Dex’s Diner. The small restaurant had been a Coruscant staple for years, but it had recently seen a huge surge in business. Not only did Dex make fantastic food, but he served meals to anyone who wanted to buy them. The Besalisk had a firm open-door policy, especially where clone troopers were concerned. Off-duty clone troopers were a common sight in the diner, laughing and mingling with Coruscanti civilians.

Hunter was already inside, having secured a booth tucked away in the corner. While clone troopers were far from rare at Dex’s Diner, Jedi were seen less often, especially since the war had begun.

Still, you slid into the booth across from Hunter and gave your usual order to the serving droid. Surreptitiously, you input your credit information as well, paying for the entire meal before it had the chance to deliver a total.

“What is that smile?” Hunter asked, offering one of his own.

“Nothing,” you said, waving off his question. “So, what have you and Clone Force 99 been up to since I saw you last?”

Hunter blew out a breath. “It’s been - what? A year since we saw you?”

“Yes, nearly that,” you agreed, trying to keep the edge of sadness from your voice. Early in the war, you had been on a series of missions with the Bad Batch and had planned to keep working with them, but a member of the Jedi Council had sensed your attachment when you returned planetside. You had been reassigned and ordered to cut ties with the enhanced troopers before the attachment grew stronger.

You had reluctantly done as you were told, but saying goodbye to Clone Force 99 had been difficult. In retrospect, that was likely a good sign that you were indeed getting attached to these troopers. However, that hadn’t stopped you from meeting Hunter today, the first time you had ran into him since following that order. It was with a surge of guilt that you realized you had taken care not to let any other occupants of the Temple see you leave. You hadn’t wanted them to ask where you were going…

“Hey,” Hunter said sharply, drawing your attention back to him. “Where did you go?”

“Nowhere in particular,” you excused yourself. “I’m sorry, I missed what you said.”

“I didn’t say anything,” Hunter told you. “I just sat here and watched you get lost in your own head. Stay out of there. After all, I don’t get to see you every day.”

“Fair enough,” you conceded. “How have things been going for you out there?”

Hunter shrugged. “Pretty well. We haven’t found another Jedi who works with us as well as you did, but the few we’ve been assigned to have been competent.”

From Hunter, that was high praise indeed. “And who have you been assigned to?”

“Well…” he mused, “We did a few missions with General Unduli and you know we usually work with Commander Cody and General Kenobi. We did just finish a mission with General Skywalker, though.”

“And how did that go?” you asked, smiling at the thought of the GAR’s most unorthodox squad working with the Jedi Order’s most unorthodox Knight.

Hunter rolled his eyes dramatically and launched into the story of rescuing one of Skywalker’s troopers who had been captured by the Separatists. It was horrifying to think of one of the Republic’s soldiers in enemy captivity for so long, but Hunter nearly had your sides splitting when he talked about Captain Rex brawling with Crosshair, Tech leaping onto the back of some winged creature, and Wrecker demolishing an entire Separatist fleet.

“I bet Wrecker was thrilled!” you said to the last point, still laughing.

“He was, of course,” Hunter agreed, sending a soft smile your way. “He’ll forever be looking for ways to top that mission, so I guess I have Skywalker to thank for that.”

“Oh, I needed this,” you sighed, wiping a tear from the corner of your eye.

“Want to talk about it?” Hunter asked. “I get the feeling you haven’t been happy about much lately.”

“Oh-” you stammered, his insight stunning you for a moment. “I don’t know if there’s any particular reason…” 

“If you had to think of one, then,” Hunter suggested. 

You blew out a thoughtful breath, trying to gather a year’s worth of abstract thoughts and quickly stifled smiles into a cohesive summary. “It’s… hm. It doesn’t feel… right, to laugh and joke when soldiers like you and your brothers are working so hard and so seriously to win battles. It seems- seems almost like ignoring their sacrifices. People are dying every moment, and being happy feels… frivolous, somehow?”

“You aren’t sacrificing people, if it makes you feel any better,” Hunter told you consolingly. “Just clones.”

You had stood from the table before you knew what had happened. Hunter stared up at you in surprise, a rare expression from a man whose senses allowed him to predict behaviors so well. 

“I don’t think this meeting was a good idea,” you told him bluntly. “I’ll see you later.”

“Wait-” Hunter started, trying to rise from the table, but he was interrupted by the arrival of the serving droid. The droid, oblivious to things such as tense silences, began busily unloading its tray of food onto the table, its position trapping Hunter in his seat.

You watched in silence as the table was set to the precise specifications that the droid had been programmed to deliver. Hunter, avoiding your gaze, fiddled with his silverware, ruining the droid's perfect symmetry with only a touch.

When the droid had finished and rolled away, Hunter looked up at you, confusion and guilt mingling on his face. He gestured to your plate. "Please?"

You eased back into the seat after a moment of thought. Hunter couldn't know why you were upset if you didn't give him the benefit of an explanation.

To give yourself a moment of thought, you unfolded your napkin and spread it across your lap. When you were done, you made direct and unblinking eye contact with Hunter. "It hurts me when you talk about the troopers like their lives have less meaning. Like they deserve nothing more than death to achieve a goal."

"That's what we were told all our lives," Hunter countered carefully. "At least the regs were told they could die in sacrifice for the Republic. We were told that we deserved to die because we were different."

The disgust and self-loathing in Hunter's last word made you reach out and cover his hand with yours. You made no effort to influence him - you respected him far too much for that - but you tried to convey your sympathy with a touch.

"And now you know that isn't true in the slightest," you reminded him. "I can't change a moment of your past, but we can all impact our shared present to create the future we deserve."

Hunter's warm fingers flexed under yours as he flipped his hand over to weave your fingers together. 

"That's why you're the Jedi we keep asking to be assigned to," he said with a fond smile. "You don't see us for what we can do for you, for the Republic. You just see us."

You raised your eyebrows at that, your heart feeling lighter than it had since the early days of the war. "As if the Bad Batch could be tied to a single Jedi…"

"For you?" Hunter pretended to think about it. "I think we could give it a try."

With a shared smile, the two of you turned your attention to the food you had ordered. Neither of you commented on your hands, still intertwined on the table between you.

---

A/N - I originally had a different ending in mind, but I liked this one too much to change it. I’ll leave it up to you to decide what happens when Hunter realizes that you’ve already paid for your food! 

Thanks for the request, @dreamingofclones! I hope you enjoyed!

[jgvfhl]

Hardcase has a what now...?

My dear @soclonely pointed out to me a while ago that Hardcase has MASSIVE Gomez Addams energy, and we can't have a Gomez without a Morticia. So naturally, I created her. She's wonderful. Enjoy this writing about them! It's 8200 words! I'd apologize but anyone who likes Hardcase knows I'm doing them a favor 😌

Aside from the batchmates he’d trained with on Kamino, Jesse had known Hardcase pretty much forever. They had both been shinies in Torrent Company way back when Rex hadn’t had any grey hairs. Jesse had been on leave with his friend countless times. So, was it a huge surprise every time Hardcase ran up to him in 79s, an enormous smile on his face, his eyes shining from neon lights, to tell him he was in love? No. Not anymore. It had happened about… seven times? Eight? But Jesse was a brother, so he was never anything other than understanding, encouraging (to a point), and as helpful as he could feasibly be.

“Oh, you gotta see her, Jess, you gotta,” Hardcase said, grabbing his wrist and trying to lead him through the crowds at 79s.

“Okay, okay, ‘Case,” Jesse agreed, staying put at his table while he finished his drink. “What’s so special about her?”

That seemed to catch his brother’s attention. He moved closer, still with a hold on his wrist, so he could be heard above the thumping bass of the music. “Y’know that ache in my shoulder from falling on it last week?”

“The one you got falling off the bunks you weren’t supposed to be on?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Hardcase waved his free hand to dismiss Jesse’s reminder. “But you remember Kix couldn’t get it to go away, right?”

Jesse did not like the direction this was going. He set his glass down and nodded. “Yeah…”

Hardcase grinned and moved his arm in circles, demonstrating a full range of motion. “She fixed it!”

That was… Hardcase was smarter than that, right? He wouldn’t accept drugs from strange women in 79s, right? How else would he have survived this long in the war?

“Um… Hardcase?”

“Isn’t that cool?” his brother smiled, still showing off his perfectly mobile shoulder, and still grasping Jesse’s wrist. “She’s so cool! She’s so smart, she knows all these things about plants and animals and like… chemistry or something I think?” He was rambling. Jesse recognized it as normal, but usually it wasn’t quite this… animated. “Oh! And Jesse!” He raised his hands to clap, but discovered he was still holding Jesse’s wrist. “Whoops, sorry.” He released his wrist, then clapped and carried on with his slurry of words. “She’s so pretty, Jesse! She’s like a damn painting, Jess--”

“Do you know anything else about her other than her penchant for alchemy?” Jesse had to ask.

Hardcase stopped his excited rambling and blinked at him. “What?”

“Like a name…?” Jesse prompted slowly, putting a hand on his shoulder so he wouldn’t bounce off somewhere in his excitement.

“Oh!” Hardcase laughed. “Yeah, yeah, her name’s Tala,” he said, again starting to tug Jesse somewhere else. “She’s from Coruscant.”

The atmosphere in the briefing room was… tense, to say the least. Clones were protective of their own, because usually all they had was their own. An attack against one clone was an attack against the whole damn army, as far as most brothers were concerned. And, while most of Torrent Co. had met and interacted with at least one natborn in their short lives, and quite a few had had more… intimate experiences, the implication that one of their boys in blue might actually want a relationship with one that needed to be discussed. Hence the briefing room.

“What does he mean he has a girlfriend?” Rex asked for the third time in ten minutes. The captain was not taking Jesse’s news well.

“I don’t know!” Jesse hissed, trying to keep his voice down so it wouldn’t carry into the corridor. “He met this lady at 79s and now he won’t shut up about her.”

“Is… this being interpreted as a bad thing?” Echo wanted to know.

Jesse shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know! I thought it would fade like all his other nattie crushes, which is why I didn’t tell you right away--”

“Yeah, Hardcase does this all the time,” Kix cut in to agree.

“But he never keeps them up for more than a day or so,” he finished. “It’s been almost three.”

There was a momentary pause as they all considered this fact. Fives finally said, “Have they slept together?”

“Not that he’s told me,” Jesse said.

“And he would,” Kix said, and Rex nodded, rubbing his eyes, probably remembering “fond memories,” as Jesse was.

Rex rubbed his chin and sighed. “Okay. So. Has anyone ever met this woman?”

Everyone looked to Jesse. He had been dreading this part of the conversation. See, he hadn’t really told them anything about the woman he’d met in 79s that night with Hardcase, and none of them had been there to do so either. So it was only him.

“Well…” he said, rubbing his head and thinking he’d probably need to shave it again soon. “I did… kinda… meet her. That night. Because he dragged me over.”

“And?” Fives prompted, folding his arms.

79s had many alcoves and corners and slightly more private places for people to experience the full blast of the place from a distance. Jesse had been in such a place, because he was tired. Hardcase was now dragging him bodily out of that place, and towards the tables around the main dance floor.

“C’mon!” Hardcase called behind him. The lights swung around crazily, not exactly adding to his overall comfort in the situation.

“I’m trying…” Jesse muttered to himself, dodging people and serving droids left and right.

But finally, Hardcase pulled him up short beside a round standing table surrounded by… oh Maker help them. Zabraks.

“Hold the kriff up right there--” Kix cut into Jesse’s story.

He was closely followed by Fives and Echo spluttering, “Zabraks?”

Rex said, “Nightsisters?”

Jesse sighed, knowing very well their captain's personal encounters with Asajj Ventress on Teth. “Well. Kind of. I’ll get to that.”

The three zabraks--all women--turned to look at them upon Hardcase’s arrival, dragging Jesse. On the table was a large case, inside of which glittered dozens of little glass vials of liquid. The bright lights twinkled off their sides, somehow matching the sheen of dark nail polish on the woman’s hands holding it. Jesse did not like the look of them. The vials or the zabraks. Two of them, he recognized as Iridonian--he knew they had more human-like skin tones and small horns and… hair, right? Or was that the men… he couldn’t remember, especially when three pairs of scrutinizing eyes were currently making the rounds on his person.

But the third woman, her hands on the case, looked… well, she looked more like the images he’d seen of Asajj Ventress than her companions. This, naturally, did nothing to ease Jesse’s anxiety on the situation.

The description had similar effects in the briefing room.

“You’re kidding, right?” Kix said.

“She’s a Nightsister?” Rex followed, looking even more wary than at the first mention of zabraks.

Jesse shrugged helplessly. “I dunno! She… she has different tattoos?”

“That doesn’t mean anything in terms of her subspecies,” Echo said. “Dathomiri and Iridonian zabraks both use tattoos to differentiate familial lines and identity. And it’s only the male Dathomiri zabraks who don’t have body hair.”

Fives rolled his eyes at his batchmate’s impression of a holotext. “So, what, she goes to 79s to sell drugs?”

“Well, yeah. I mean--no, not--not that kind of drugs,” Jesse said, stumbling a bit over the words. “Not like spice or anything, it’s literally all either medicinal or like, I dunno, antidotes to DR drugs?”

“Antidotes?” Rex said.

“Yeah. Also, she grew up on Coruscant, so… does that still make her a Nightsister?”

They all looked at Echo, who blinked and stood up a bit taller when he noticed. “Well, probably not.”

The odd woman out--Tala, Jesse remembered her name was Tala--smiled when her eyes landed on Hardcase. Jesse had to admit, his brother was right about one thing: this woman was absolutely stunning to look at. Her light skin and jet black hair kept shifting tones in the ever-changing colored lights, but the thin black lines of her tattoos always stood out.

“Welcome back, handsome,” she said, closing the lid of her case, leaning one elbow on the table, and resting her other hand on her hip. The long sleeve of her short black dress flared at the wrist, draping over her hip.

It was then Jesse realized she was several inches taller than both his brother and himself. He glanced at her feet, hoping it was her shoes giving her this advantage, but her boots gave her two inches at most. Well.

“Hi,” Hardcase replied with the absolute dumbest smile on his face. “I have a brother,” he said, lifting Jesse’s hand in his.

Tala nodded. “I had a feeling you might.”

A comically awestruck smile spread across his brother’s face, and Jesse dipped his head, pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand.

“She knows you’re a clone, buddy, it’s not magic,” he said quietly. “We’re in 79s for Maker’s sake.”

“Oh! Right.” The grin was still stupid, and Tala’s friends hid smirks in their drinks.

“I’m Jesse,” he said before Hardcase could accidentally call him Kix or something.

“Oh, I’m Tala,” she said, her smile widening as she straightened up and extended a hand for him to shake.

He wrested his hand free from Hardcase to tentatively complete the gesture. “Hi. Um. Look, I just… want to make sure whatever you gave him for his… shoulder… isn’t gonna kill him.”

There was a second of thought before her expression brightened, her grey eyes glittering a bit like Hardcase’s did when he saw a new weapon to play with. “Oh, of course!” She turned her case around to open it again, selecting a small vial from the third row. “Of course, what a good brother you are. Here.” She held it up between thumb and forefinger. “It’s nothing dangerous, I promise.” The liquid lit up sort of purple as the lights passed over it. “I could give you a sample if your medic wants to check it, though.”

One of her friends, the woman with darker skin and a purple dress murmured, “You’re sure it’s that one and not the other one--”

Tala answered immediately, shaking her head. “No, no, no, I don’t bring the really nasty ones out of the house.”

Hardcase moved a step closer to the two women discussing ‘really nasty’ potions, looking a bit too excited for the subject. “What about the one you said it could like… oh! It could turn your eyes into blood or something?”

Tala got a smug smile on her darkly painted mouth and again leaned on the table. "I could make one that would turn your tongue as blue as your paint, handsome."

"Awesome!" Hardcase beamed, again stepping closer.

"Uh… 'Case she just said she can turn your tongue blue," Jesse found himself pointing out.

"Oh, please," Tala said, sounding the way she had when she had called him 'such a good brother,' "I always make the antidote to go with. It wouldn't do at all if the ones experiencing the effects couldn't give a report afterwards."

Jesse had left out some of the finer details for his brothers but they were still staring at him with varying flavors of concern.

"As much as she sounds crazy," Kix said, "I… have to respect her method."

"Her method?" Rex asked, incredulous.

"I am a man of science," the medic protested. "Her process has merits. You don't want a test subject to die before…" He trailed off when he saw their slightly more concerned faces, edging perhaps into fear. "Okay, well, I would never--ugh! Nevermind." He crossed his arms and fell silent, until he remembered something. "Wait, is that the weird stuff you had me do some tests on? And it was like… three different kinds of plant extracts and one toad venom compound?"

"That's the one."

"Toad venom?" Rex cut in, eyes narrowing.

Kix waved a hand dismissively. "It's nothing bad, it was processed in a way that negates the harmful effects. But she did that?"

Jesse shrugged. "I guess?"

Kix blinked, one eyebrow arching in surprise and maybe even respect. “Huh,” was all he said, though.

“So… what are we going to do about this?” Echo wanted to know. Jesse wanted to know as well. “It doesn’t seem like anything particularly bad, it’s just…” He trailed off, looking for the right words.

As usual, his batchmate found some for him. “Really kriffing weird?”

Echo tilted his head, considering them. “Yeah.”

“But still, I mean--” Rex started, but Jesse’s comm pinged and he opened the message while the others kept talking amongst themselves.

“Oh,” he said aloud, and that made everyone go quiet.

“What?” Rex said.

“It’s… from ‘Case.” His brothers’ silences made him continue. “He uh… wants us to meet him outside the base for a bit.”

“Wait, when did he leave the base?” the captain demanded. After last night, Jesse had hauled an elated and practically bouncing-off-the-walls Hardcase back to the barracks on Coruscant, and there he had stayed. Or, was supposed to stay. It appeared he’d gone off again.

“Dunno,” Jesse answered honestly.

“Why do I have the feeling we’re gonna get a lot of answers about this woman really soon?” Fives asked, voicing all their thoughts.

Rex started walking to the door, grabbing his helmet off the holotable in the middle of the room where it lay with Fives’ and Echo’s. “Well, let’s go find out,” he sighed, and they all followed him, filing out of the room and through the halls towards the front gates of the RMB.

-scene-

Coruscant’s weather was artificially controlled for the most part. Usually, it was pale sun, no clouds (for ships coming and going), and comfortably warm for the average body temperature of the millions of species inhabiting the metropolis. Today, however, it could have been thundering and lightning, pouring down rain like Kamino, and Hardcase would not have cared a wink. He wouldn’t have cared if the street were on fire (actually, that would have been really cool, come to think of it) and toxic sludge were pouring out of the sewers (again… kinda cool), because he had the most amazing woman in the galaxy walking next to him.

“So the trick with thermal detonators is you’ve gotta know their charge capacity, because the last thing you want is you and your buddies going sky-high with the clankers because you grabbed a 10cc instead of a 2cc, y’know?” he explained, dodging other people on the walkway as he tried not to hit them while gesturing. Tala had asked what exactly he did in the GAR, so he had been enthusiastically telling her about being a weapons and demo specialist. No one else had ever seemed interested after he'd told them before.

She nodded, her high ponytail swinging with it. “Of course. Any alchemist has the same problem.”

“Same--what do you mean?” He loved how much he could learn from her in all of two seconds of conversation. Although, sometimes he did get a bit lost--he was easily distracted and she was very distracting, after all.

“Well, the trick is everything in moderation,” she said with a small smile that could have turned his knees to jelly if he thought about it for too long. “Too much of certain ingredients can kill almost anyone,” she went on, a gleam in her grey eyes. “But just the right amount can cure a cold, or take pain away, or give you a fun trip, if you want.”

“Ohhhh…” He hadn’t realized he’d stopped walking until he felt her tug on his arm.

“Watch out, charmer, you’ll trip someone,” she said, or something like that. He wasn’t entirely sure what she had said because most of his mental energy had been devoted to registering her touch and then not falling flat on his face by tripping over his own feet.

He was blushing, he knew, but he didn’t feel the need to hide it. So he turned to her to tell her, “You’re really smart.”

Tala dipped her chin and scoffed quietly. Hardcase didn’t know enough about zabraks to know if she was blushing or not, but it was likely. He kind of hoped she was. “That’s nice to hear,” she finally said with a brief smile. Her hold on his arm tightened just a bit. “Most people find it pretty hard to get past the witch thing, so--”

“But witches have to be smart,” he reasoned. “Same way I have to be smart, or I’d be blown to little bits by now, right?”

She looked over at him, and he couldn’t quite place the look on her face. The sheer beauty of her face didn’t help him figure it out. The RMB was visible now, and the civilian crowds were thinning as they approached. Finally, she smiled genuinely again, and said, “I think I’m very glad you’re smart, then.”

All he could do was smile at her, because his words had utterly deserted him at that point. But he did remember to keep walking this time, delighting in the fact that she hadn't let go of his arm yet.

As they approached the base, more and more clones replaced the civilians walking by, and someone would have to he blind not to notice the attention they gave Tala. Hardcase wasn't quite sure if that was because she looked Dathomiri, and more than a few brothers had it out for Ventress; or because, obviously, she was the most beautiful person dirtside in parsecs. Reading expression and body language had never been a strong suit for him.

Tala must have been better at it, because she murmured to him, "I'm afraid I'm not going to be very popular with your brothers, if the looks I'm getting from these troopers are anything to go by."

"Don't worry about it!" he tried to assure her. "Look, they trust me, yeah? So… by extension, they have to at least be civil to you. That is what being a clone means.”

“It means trust?”

“It means family is more important than most, I think,” he said, waving at the 41st trooper he’d met a few nights ago who happened to be walking by. The trooper either did recognize him and didn’t like him, or was too busy reading the datapad in front of him to notice. Ah well. “Also, life is short--shorter for us--and I don’t want them missing out.”

Tala raised a perfect eyebrow at him. “Missing out on what?”

He gave her a winning smile. “On you! You’re amazing. You’re the coolest person I’ve met in a really long time. They should meet you.”

She smiled back, a little fond, he thought. “You really know how to make a girl feel like one in a million, huh, handsome?”

“Oh, you do half the work for me,” he said, “already being one in a million and everything.”

For a moment or two, she fell silent and stared at him as they walked, ever approaching the RMB gates. After a bit, he started thinking he’d said the wrong thing to trigger such a curious silence. But finally, she said, “Why do you do that?”

That made him question himself even more, but he kept up appearances and asked, “What do you mean? What--what am I doing?” He resisted the urge to ask if he was doing something wrong. He didn’t want to do something wrong. Not for her.

“The--” she waved her free hand-- “the flattery, the compliments--normally when a guy starts laying on praise he wants something. Something like a date or a hook-up. But you haven’t asked me for anything in three days except to go on walks or meet your brothers.”

“Oh.” It was all the words he found he had ready to speak. Truthfully, asking anything else hadn’t even occurred to him. Well, the date might have, once or twice, but he just got so caught up in being with her, it usually slipped his mind after a few minutes’ conversation anyway. He just liked being around her. He liked talking to her, he liked that she never told him to stop rambling about explosives (or lunch or weather or planets), he liked that she let him ask as many questions about alchemy as he wanted…

Did it really only take three days to start liking someone like that?

He was brought back to reality when her fingers grazed his chin, and he felt his heart stop for a beat as he looked back at her. “I’m just saying I’m not used to praise without any strings attached, is all,” she said. “I’m sure I can get used to it, though.”

Hardcase stuck his chin out proudly, happy with the knowledge he hadn’t done anything wrong. “You might just have to, miss. I don’t intend to stop.”

“Dank karking ferrik, okay--” Jesse heard in his right ear from Fives. They were waiting outside the base for Hardcase and this Tala woman, and the other four--Echo, Kix, Fives, and Rex--had just gotten their first look at her. “I guess I see why he was interested in the first place,” Fives finished in the same low voice.

Tala had a presence. It was a weird comparison to Hardcase’s buoyant, jubilant energy. They saw him walking and talking animatedly as he always did, but she was so quiet, collected. Even in chunky black combat boots (again, a low heel, and she was still tall), she seemed to have a way of gliding forward. Cool as a dead star, next to the ball of energy that was their brother.

She was also, as Jesse had told them, almost unnaturally beautiful, and today was no different. She had the same high ponytail and undercut that he’d seen in 79s, but her dress was of a far less flashy material than before and hung to just above her knees, dark blue with a pleated skirt, slim long sleeves, and black stockings underneath.

This would be interesting, no doubt.

The captain took half a step ahead of the rest of them to meet them, and Hardcase was waving and smiling at him from several meters away still.

“Captain! Hi!”

“Hardcase,” the captain replied in a familiar, fond voice. Hardcase and Tala stopped a few feet from him, and their brother gave a lazy salute, but Jesse knew the captain wouldn’t care. Fives already did it all the time, and Captain Rex really only got annoyed if there was a CO to see it. “And this would be…”

In the captain’s defense, Jesse wouldn’t know how to refer to Tala either.

Thankfully, she seemed to understand this. “I’m Tala. I’m--well, I’m sure he’s told you about me.”

“I have,” he assured her.

“He has,” the captain agreed. “I’m Captain Rex, I’m his commanding officer.”

Tala nodded once. “Ah, yes, I remember.”

“I told her about you,” Hardcase said, despite the clear implication. “All good things!” he said hastily. “Except maybe the general throwing you off the wall on Bug World isn’t a good thing, but it’s a funny thing.”

“It is a funny thing,” Fives agreed.

The captain sighed quietly, knowing he was fighting a losing battle for propriety here. “Right.” He relaxed slightly from the rigid stance he’d taken up when Tala had approached. Jesse couldn’t imagine having a conversation with her was an entirely pleasant affair. “Can I have a word with you? By yourself?” he asked. “I’m sure the boys can entertain themselves for a few minutes.”

Tala was likewise uncertain, but Jesse didn’t know anything about why. She glanced at Hardcase, who gave her a grin and a thumbs up with one hand. Her lips twitched into a tiny smile, then she nodded to the captain. “Of course.”

Hardcase seemed dismayed when she relinquished his arm to walk away several meters with the captain, but Kix and Domino had plenty of questions, so he was easily distracted from it.

“When Jess said she was a looker, I didn’t think he meant like that,” Fives said first, because he was Fives. Jesse rolled his eyes.

Hardcase beamed. Jesse hadn’t seen him this consistently happy in a while. “I know!”

“Did she really cure your shoulder?” Kix asked next, reaching out and poking at the exposed blacks around Hardcase’s shoulder.

“I think so,” he answered, letting his medic examine him. “It took a minute to take effect, but it feels good as new.”

“Is she Dathomiri?” Echo wanted to know.

Hardcase shook his head. “Nope. Not really, anyway,” he said. “She’s half-Dathomiri, half-Iridonian, but she grew up here on Coruscant. She says she’s always been upset she doesn’t have horns.”

Echo nodded, and Kix snorted, but Jesse found the same confusion he felt written on Fives’ face. “I don’t understand,” the ARC stated.

“Both Iridonian men and women have the horns,” Echo explained. “But in Dathomiri zabraks, just the men have them, and they’re far more pronounced than Iridonian horns.”

Jesse tilted his head. “Huh. So that’s why the Hairless Harpy has no horns.”

“Yes.”

“Weird,” Fives said, scratching his goatee. “I always hear Waxer saying she flirts with General Kenobi every chance she gets.”

Kix, Hardcase, and Jesse all stared at him, trying to find the connection between subjects. Echo blinked, thought a second, then sighed a deep sigh and put his head in his hands. It was a familiar sight.

“Get it?” Fives said. “‘Cause she’s not horny… so why is she flirting…?”

“Ha ha, you’re a damn comedian, Fives,” Echo muttered, but he was almost drowned out by Hardcase cracking up into laughter, putting an arm on Kix’s shoulder for support. That was enough vindication for Fives, who crossed his arms and stuck his chin out at his batchmate.

“So…” Jesse started, once Hardcase had calmed down to a smile, “what… what are your plans? I guess?” He was so not used to talking about romance and Hardcase in the same sentence. It was weird.

“Like plans for the day or plans… like plans plans?” his brother asked.

Jesse shrugged. “Both, if you’ve got ‘em.”

“Well, we were gonna go to the Outer Rim Botanical Gardens later today. I guess there’s all kinds of cool plants she uses for work in there,” he answered, now leaning on Kix. The medic was used to this. “But afterwards, I’m not sure.”

“But, you… really like her, right?” Fives said.

Hardcase nodded with enthusiasm. “How can I not?” he smiled. “She’s awesome! And she’s smart, and she’s beautiful, and she lets me talk about my job--she thinks we can make little like--like smoke bomb kinda things, but not smoke, it’s like aerosolized versions of her potions, so it’s like, um…” He waved a hand around in the air, trying to remember the word.

“Aromatherapy?” Kix supplied, and received a not-so-gentle shove in reply.

“Yeah! That thing that you said.”

They stared at his face--which was glowing from happiness--for a moment. Then Kix said, “Well, it could work.”

“Exactly!” he agreed. “How cool is that?”

“How cool is what?” the captain wanted to know. He and Tala were walking back over to them, having finished their little chat.

“Aromatherapy,” Hardcase told him, standing up a little straighter. “Tala and I had an idea.”

“Oh, right the little not smoke bomb things,” Tala said, nodding her head as she walked around the others to stand beside him.

The captain took a moment to process this, but eventually he nodded slowly. “Right. Not smoke bombs.”

“I take it the shovel talk is finished, then, sir?” Fives asked, looking to the captain.

“It wasn’t a shovel talk--”

“It was absolutely a shovel talk, sir,” Kix said, cutting him off.

The captain sighed, rubbing his brow with one hand. “Whatever. We had a talk. It’s finished. You’re free to…” He gestured to the horizon broadly. “You’re on leave,” he said. “Have fun.”

“Thank you, sir!” Hardcase grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Tala extended a hand to him. “The Gardens close at six. Shall we?”

He took her hand with purpose and answered, “I have no idea where we’re going or what it is, but lead on.”

They watched them walk away in much the same manner as they had come: Hardcase was gesturing widely about whatever they were talking about, and Tala was gliding along, nodding every so often. What a strange sight… and yet.

“So… we’re okay with this, now?” Jesse asked the other four.

“Yep, I’m good with it,” Fives said, nodding decisively. Echo nodded next to him.

“She seems smart enough to deal with him,” Kix added.

They all looked to their captain, who hadn’t spoken yet. He noticed, and shrugged. “As long as he’s happy, I can’t really argue.”

-scene-

Tala's apartment had been personally engineered for coziness over the years she'd had it. All the colors were personal choices, all the furniture was hand-picked, all the candles currently lit appealed to her senses. Her house plants and her work plants had their own spaces, all getting just the right amount of sun. Her kitchen was too small for a proper dining room, so the fake marble island served as both a preparation station and dining room. It was a dark color flecked with silver, standing out against her dark silver cupboards and pale fake marble flooring. She didn't often have company, because she had so many plants needing careful attention, and large gatherings made her (and them) nervous.

But just one person was fine. Normally, Hardcase's energy shone as bright as the candles she kept on her island, but tonight, he was a bit flat, and she hadn't asked why yet. He was sitting at the island, swinging his legs absent-mindedly, his head resting in his hand.

"Right," Tala said, finally turning off the stove and removing the pan to serve dinner. "What could possibly have put my favorite ray of sunshine behind a cloud, hm?"

That at least made him look up at her and smile, but it had nowhere near the sparkle it normally did. "Oh, nothing. Nothing new, anyway."

"Nothing new you haven't at least mentioned to me in passing?" she asked, sliding a plate of stir fry over to him. "I'm surprised."

"We're shipping back out tomorrow. So."

Oh. Well that would explain the quiet mood. He was leaving. She had no idea when he might be back. As she sat down across from him with her own plate, she found the same somber mood descending on her.

"Can you tell me where?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Nope," he said, using his fork to push the food around on his plate. "Too important, I guess."

She nodded, taking a bite. "I'm sorry it's making you unhappy."

Hardcase smiled again. "Usually it doesn't," he admitted. "But I guess I've never had anything or anyone to leave behind before, y'know?"

Gods, he was adorable sometimes. The smile he gave just then was warm enough to melt Hoth. "Any idea when you could be back?" She was hesitant to ask, because she knew that question didn't always have an answer. Sometimes, even if it had an answer, the reality of war wouldn't have the same plan.

He shrugged while he ate. "Not sure. A month? Maybe two?"

Tala felt her chest tighten around a new bit of worry. That wasn't a terribly long time, in the long scheme of things, but it was… two months. Tala didn't want… she didn't really like the idea of two months without him. And yes that was unrealistic and perhaps a bit selfish, but she cared. Suddenly, she cared about seeing him every day, talking to him every day, seeing his happiness. She couldn't decide if it was on her that she felt this way after only six days, or maybe it was him.

"Well," she said with lightness she didn't quite feel, "I'll miss you, I think."

"Yeah?" he grinned.

"Yeah," she smiled back. "Life's a bit brighter with you around. Even the plants like you."

"What do the plants do if they don't like someone?"

Tala's smile turned sly. "You'd know," she said with a wink. "You do know I have some carnivorous ones."

Slowly, his typical boisterous energy was reviving, but she knew it wouldn't outpace the worry about leaving tomorrow. "If… y'know, if I go to a planet with some cool plants, do you want one?" he wanted to know.

Oh. Okay. She might just keep this one after all. "I think that would be wonderful. Oh, do you--are you allowed to have a frequency for me? For transmissions?" She was surprised she hadn't asked this earlier.

It was Hardcase's turn to look sly. "Is Fives allowed to make moonshine near the engine room? Of course not. Does he?"

"I'm guessing he does."

"Yeah, it's not bad stuff after a twelve-hour march."

She breathed a laugh resting the back of her wrist on her forehead. "I'll get you a frequency, then."

"And I'll do my best to call when I can," he assured her. "As long as you're okay with some other brothers dropping in."

"That's fine," she said. "They're your family."

"Yeah, clones don't have an overly developed sense of privacy," he finished. "But they mean well."

"I'm sure."

She let him spend the rest of dinner telling her little facts about his brothers. They were just about his whole world, she didn't mind. She liked listening to him talk about the things he loved, and that naturally included his family. It also probably made him less anxious about tomorrow, and that was a good thing.

When they had cleared their plates, Hardcase offered to take them to the sink, and she let him. They hadn't had time to go on a proper date at a restaurant, so she was happy to let him be a gentleman even if he couldn't open doors or pull out her chair for her in the confines of her apartment.

As he turned back from the sink behind her to walk back to his chair, she reached out to stop him by grabbing his wrist. "Hey."

"Hey what?" He'd frozen still the second her hand had touched him.

She looked up at him. "Can I have a kiss?"

It seemed to take a second for the words to register, but when they did, a now familiar stupefied grin spread over his face. "Uh… yeah. Yes."

-scene-

Hardcase thought about that kiss a lot. It was a good memory. He wasn’t sure he’d be getting many more, as he watched the power to the ship’s shields dwindle, and he wasn’t nearly far enough away from the main reactors to be safe yet. They’d tell her, right? If he died, they’d tell Tala so she wouldn’t be living in limbo for months, right?

He certainly hoped so.

Fives and Jesse had to be clear by now. If they weren’t… well he didn’t know what they’d been doing for the past minute if not getting clear of the giant supply ship kriffing exploding. They would be alive, and that was his job: he got rid of the Seppie supply ship, and they would live to fight another day.

He sighed when he saw the shields flicker as the power ran dangerously low, and heard a boom somewhere behind him in the ship.

He’d really been hoping to see her again.

-scene-

Three weeks. Today made three weeks since the fairly regular transmissions from Hardcase had just… stopped. One week, Tala had forgiven. War was messy and unpredictable, it was impossible to know when he would have time for a call in all that chaos. Two weeks, she had grown suspicious, but not greatly concerned. But after three weeks, she was worried. She hated how worried she was, in fact. It had only been a month and a half since she’d met him, and here she was--so worried for his wellbeing, her plants were starting to suffer from the stress.

She might have to take up her friend Stella’s offer on meditation after all, if her business started suffering with them.

But she was worried! She was worried because she cared, and she cared because he was… he was so… good. He was good to her in a way she hadn’t expected someone could be, which just sounded ridiculous to her own ears at this point, after six days with him, and only two weeks of transmissions. But it was true. She’d been to 79s four times in the past week, hoping for news on the 501st, but no one knew or was willing to tell her. She’d finally seen blue paint there two nights ago, but none from his company, and so no one of much help.

She didn’t want to assume the worst, she really didn’t. But it was hard not to. Life was miserable while she didn’t know what had happened to him, all her friends could see it, and some of her customers had started to ask questions, too. She’d started doing more mail delivery now, instead of doing it in person herself just to avoid those questions. They made her think about just how long it had been since she'd heard from him.

Breakfast today was quiet, as it had become. Before, she would have listened to music, but she found it didn’t do much anymore. She sat in silence, eating her sausages and bacon slowly, trying to figure out where to put worry and growing fear over someone she thought she shouldn’t care so strongly for, but somehow did. It wasn’t something that had ever needed a place before, and it was strange.

So when her holoprojector beeped and lit up for the first time in three weeks, she nearly sent her fork spinning across the countertop, still impaling a sausage, in her haste. It took three tries to unlock it and answer the call because her hands had started shaking. But eventually, the blue light sprang forth from the device, quickly taking shape into two faces.

She recognized the faces, but that wasn’t saying much for clones.

Importantly, neither of them was Hardcase. The initial jolt of adrenaline turned into fear in a second.

“Hi,” one of them said, waving awkwardly. Searching her memory, Tala recalled two of the clones she’d met with Hardcase before they’d shipped out. These were Fives and Echo, Fives having been the first to speak.

“This… is not what I expected,” she answered honestly.

“I know,” Echo said. “We’re sorry, we didn’t have another way to contact you, ma’am.”

She nodded, doing her best to swallow the lump of anxiety threatening to strangle her. “Why--why would you need to contact me?” Again, she tried not to think the worst. It didn’t work.

Fives glanced at Echo, a flicker of guilt just barely visible from the hologram’s shifting projection. Guilt made her nervous. “We… well, we wanted to apologize,” he started.

“We promised ‘Case that if we got back and anything had happened to him,” his brother continued.

“We’d tell you.”

“And… we forgot.”

“For a few days.”

Tala stared at them for a moment or so, struggling to process the information. Something had certainly happened to Hardcase, that was clear from their expressions and their tone. But they weren’t telling her what exactly had happened.

“What do you mean?” she asked. “Why haven’t I heard from him in three weeks?”

Again, the two clones looked at each other, appearing to have a short conversation in the silence between them. Echo said, “It’s a long story, ma’am.”

“We had to cut communications at one point during the last campaign,” his brother picked up. “That was three weeks ago. ‘Case has been on Coruscant for almost a week now, though.”

There was a minuscule release of tension from her person, but she refused to let it all go until she asked, "He's alive? He's okay?"

Fives and Echo blinked at her. Then Fives' expression changed to something usually followed by a surprised curse. "Fierfek, yeah, he's alive. Sorry, we've known for weeks, we weren't thinking."

“Clearly.” She knew being harsh wasn’t constructive or useful, but she didn’t care. Their forgetfulness had caused her weeks of stress for no reason. She was allowed to be angry.

At least they had the decency to look ashamed. “The hospital has visiting hours, though,” Echo offered. “He won’t be awake, but he got out of bacta yesterday, so at least he’ll be in a bed.”

“We’d have to escort you there--rules and everything,” Fives continued, “but they should let you through no problem once you’re registered as a visitor, I think.”

Tala knew enough to know that spending days in bacta was meant for life-threatening, severe injuries. She wasn’t sure if she felt better or worse knowing that. Yes, he was alive and on the mend, but whatever had happened had to have been horrific. She sighed, moving to sit back down and set the projector on the kitchen island. “When are visiting hours?”

“Noon to five, ma’am,” Echo answered.

She nodded, mentally going through her schedule that day. “Can I meet one or both of you by the base at… one?” She had deliveries to make before then.

Echo nodded back, and Fives said, “Yes ma’am, Echo can meet you. I’ve got uh… chores.”

Tala had a suspicion he didn’t have chores, but he definitely had something important to do. Hardcase had said Fives was the worst liar in Torrent. She wasn’t finding much evidence to refute him. But she wouldn’t press the matter. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Echo said.

“He’ll be glad to see you,” Fives added. He corrected himself, “If he’s awake. I--he might not be yet.”

“I’ll see you at one,” she said, and they nodded, and she turned the projector off. Only then did she slump down in her chair, shedding weeks of pent up anticipation and disappointment in a breath. Her world seemed to settle around her, like dust and leaves swept up in the wind, now drifting back down to the ground. She picked up her discarded fork with its sausage still stuck on, then paused. Reaching across the island, she grabbed her datapad, poked the screen until she found what she wanted, then set it aside while she finished her breakfast as it quietly played her playlist of morning music.

-scene-

Waking up was a blur for at least the first hour Hardcase tried it. Unsurprising, given the last thing he remembered was a lot of light and a lot of heat, and now he felt he was in a bed of some kind. There was a lot of time missing there. He didn’t have the wherewithal to tell where he was yet. His mind felt heavy, almost as heavy as his eyelids felt every time he tried to pry them open. But, eventually, he managed to open his eyes and keep them open for longer than two seconds, and he recognized a med bay.

It wasn’t Torrent’s med bay on the Resolute, though. The space was too big and too well organized for that. There was an IV in his left arm, and probably plenty of other wires stuck to him that he would find later.

But after the first pass around the room to get his bearings, none of that even mattered, because she was here. Tala was sleeping peacefully on his right side, one hand clutching his, her black hair pooling on the white sheets behind her head. He turned to look at the ceiling, a huge smile on his face. The last thing he remembered before this hospital was bright heat, but right now, his chest felt just as warm for a much, much better reason. And it occurred to him, it might not be too bad to wake up to a sight like that every day.

But right now, he hadn't spoken to her in three weeks. He started slowly pulling his hand away from her. Once their clasped hands slid out from under her cheek, she took a sharp breath as her head lifted. She hadn't been sleeping that hard, after all.

In two glances, her eyes landed on him, and her beautiful face lit up like a Tatooine sunset. "You're awake!"

"Hi." Maker, his voice sounded like he'd been yelling across a battlefield for about four hours.

But it hardly mattered once she stood up to put her arms around his neck as best as she could. Stars, he'd missed her so much. He put his right arm around her waist and pressed his face into the crook of her shoulder. He'd missed that one-of-a-kind feeling he got with her.

"Oh, I am so glad you're okay, I am so glad," she said before taking his face in her hands to kiss him.

Yeah, he'd missed this. He'd missed her warmth, and the way her bangs tickled his face. How he'd ever gotten so lucky, he'd never know, but he was thanking whatever powers made it happen. She was wonderful, and he'd been so scared he'd never see her again.

"Well, I'm still in the med bay, so…" he pointed out, leaning into her hand against his cheek.

"Yes, but your lovely brothers neglected to tell me you were even alive, so this is an improvement."

"Really?" He winced. That had been the one thing he'd told them to do if anything happened to him. Granted, he hadn't exactly reminded them before he, Jesse, and Fives broke ranks and went to destroy the supply ship. "I told them not to do that."

"Yes, well," she tilted her head. She didn't seem horribly upset. "If it ever happens again, I'll slip them something to make their hair fall out."

He laughed. Or… he tried to, anyway. It wasn't a pretty sound or a very comfortable feeling. That sucked. He liked laughing, and now it hurt. "That's a nice way to show you care, right?"

"Yeah, it's my way," Tala agreed, bending to kiss his forehead.

A knocking at the door made her turn to reveal a medic Hardcase had never seen before, dressed in medic fatigues and sporting rather vibrant yellow hair. "I… guess that explains the jump in heart rate."

"I have a visitors' pass," were Tala's first words.

"I believe you," the medic said. "I'm Io, I've been keeping an eye on him for the past week."

"Thank you for that," Hardcase said as Tala returned to her chair.

"It's my job," Io replied with a small smile. "Glad to see you awake, though. When you came in…" He shook his head.

Tala shot him a questioning look. They hadn't had the time to talk about what had actually happened. "Yeah, I'm sure it was something, sorry."

"Yeah, you'll probably be with us for another two weeks at least, but, looks like your legion is sticking around for most of that, so they'll be able to visit too."

"Oh, we're… huh." Hardcase had been out of commission for the rest of Umbara, so he hadn't known the boys were even back on Trip Zip in the first place. But apparently they were staying for a couple weeks, so he'd have plenty of time to ask questions. He hoped Krell got what he'd been asking for: Fives' boot in his face. Or Echo's, or Rex's.

Io stayed for a few minutes, taking vitals and asking questions about pain and comfort levels. Tala stayed quiet while he answered, probably cataloguing all his answers to ask about later. He wouldn't mind. Truthfully, the worst pain was his chest: the trauma to it had bruised his lungs, and although the bacta had healed the cracked ribs, the muscles and tissue were still stiff and sore. The burns had mostly healed while he was unconscious, so they itched more than anything.

When he left, Tala returned to her perch on the side of his bed, taking his hand again. "I got you a plant," he told her, squeezing her hand.

"Oh?"

"Well--I got you a seed. But, I figure you'll know what to do with it."

"I'll see what I can do," she smiled before raising his hand to kiss the back of it.

"I think you got more awesome since I left."

That made her laugh, her eyes crinkling, her cheeks flushing a shade darker. "Oh, gods, I missed you."

"Good news, I guess I'm stuck dirtside for another couple weeks," he reminded her.

"I suppose I'll have to clear a few hours every day to visit, then, won't I, handsome?"

He grinned. "I love it when you call me that." Having the same face as all your family members made compliments like that so much more valuable. But coming from her? Might as well have told him the war was ending tomorrow. And he'd won everything.

She reached over with her free hand to tap the tip of his nose. "As a dear soldier to me once said, you make it easy."

He squeezed her hand, because at the moment, he didn't really have any words left.

Aaaaand that's that! They're adorable 😊

[blacklilyqueen]

Memories - 12 Days of Rexsoka

Prompt: 12 Days of Rexsoka Day 2: Just like old times / Memories

Summary: Ahsoka is thinking back to her most important memories with Rex. 

Pairing: Rexsoka

Word Count: 1571

Warnings/tags: Angst (with some fluff)

Authors Note: I can write two things: smut and angst. And since I’m not allowed to write any of the first for this event, here we go

Read the story on AO3

Tagged Blogs: @12-days-of-rexsoka​ @rex-is-best​ @flybynite19​

“So, if you’re a captain and I’m a Jedi, then, technically, I outrank you, right?”

“In my book, experience outranks everything.”

Ahsoka often thought back to the moment she first met him. She was so overwhelmed by everything back then. Her new master, the new environment, all the clone troopers, the war. It seemed like an endless series of new impressions. She was so young back then, too young. Of course, she didn’t feel like that back then, she was full of energy and couldn’t wait to get more experience just like the clone captain told her. From the moment they first met, she had liked him. However, she would have never guessed where their relationship was leading back then. Yes, they were close, but not in that kind of way. But their friendship got stronger over the years and after leaving the order, she noticed that he was one of the people she missed the most.

“The Republic couldn’t have asked for better soldiers, nor I for a better friend.”

She meant what she had said back then. No other person in her life had ever held a similar position in her life like Rex did. She felt safe around him, could let down her guard and talk to him about what worried her. Even when Maul told her about Anakin, she felt the immediate need to talk to Rex about it and no one else. He was calm and steady, giving her reassurance and a feeling of belonging. Being with him felt like being home.

“We need to leave. It’s not safe here.”

It was as if she could still feel the warm touch of his hand on her shoulder back then. She had been starring at the graves of all the men for what felt like an eternity. Her lightsaber was laying on the ground beneath her and it would remain there, marking the grave of the part of her, that she was leaving behind forever. Turning around, she faced the man without whom she would have died earlier. His face was filled with sorrow, grief and guilt. Neither of them spoke, when they walked to the small ship and nor did they on their flight to the next safe planet. But they didn’t have to. The presence of each other was already enough to keep them sane. Ahsoka knew that she wouldn’t have made it without him. Neither during the Order 66 nor afterwards. They were all they had left.

“I’m sure that with time your nightmares will go away. And until then you got me.”

“Thank you, I’m so glad to have you.”

Amber-golden eyes were all she saw in that moment. It had been months since the Order 66, but the nightmares didn’t leave her alone. When she had had them for the first time, she didn’t want to talk to Rex about it. She was too embarrassed that she had woken him up with her screams. But he assured her that everything was fine and calmed her down. He stayed with her the entire night and she couldn’t have been more grateful. Over time it just became a habit that the two of them would spend the night laying next to each other, calming the other down with their presence and being there in case of another nightmare. This meant both of them, because Rex didn’t get spared by nightmares as well.

As she lay there, she couldn’t help herself, but get lost in those beautiful eyes. She didn’t even realize him moving, until she felt his hand caressing her cheek. His thumb brushed over her lips and she could see his gaze wandering down to her mouth. He looked into her eyes again. In response, she gave a small nod and closed her eyes, as his face came closer. When their lips finally met, it felt like electricity running through her entire body. Their lips only touched so briefly and yet it caused her to feel, like she never felt before. Soon their kiss intensified and she felt his hands all over her body. Her own hands started exploring his body as well. She had to admit that she had admired it a couple of times before, but she never dared to imagine something like this. They spent the rest of the night just making out and cuddling closer together.

Ahsoka often thought back to that moment. It was one of the happiest memories she had, because it was the first time since years that she ever truly felt safe and carefree again. She felt like she was maybe getting some happiness after all.

“You can’t just leave!”

“I have to. It’s not safe for you, if I stay.”

Tears were filling here eyes as she voiced the painful truth. It had been the second time that an inquisitor attacked them and Ahsoka knew that they were looking for her. They could feel her presence in the Force and wouldn’t stop hunting her until they found her. Staying with Rex meant risking his life as well. Alone he would have at least a chance to survive.

His hand was still wrapped around her wrist, holding her back as she was trying to turn around. Facing him, she looked right into his painfilled eyes. She reached for his face, resting her head on his forehead, before giving him one last kiss. Her heart felt like it was being ripped apart, knowing that she would never hear his voice again, never touch him like that again, never feel his lips on hers again. She didn’t know how long they kissed each other, to her it felt like an eternity and yet no amount of time would have ever been enough. When their lips parted, it felt like a part of her soul had left her body to stay with Rex.

This time he didn’t hold her back. Her arm simply slipping out of his lose grip, as she turned away and left.

“You got old.”

“Had to happen sometime, Rex.”

For what seemed like the first time in over a decade Ahsoka finally felt true happiness again, when she saw rex standing in front of her. She didn’t care about anything or anyone around her anymore. When she wrapped her arms around him, she hoped that she would never have to let him go ever again. And yet it was over so soon, she quickly thanked the Ghost crew, who were all still standing there, knowing that she needed some time alone with Rex if she really wanted to tell him all the things, she wanted to tell him.

But she didn’t get to do that. As soon as the two of them were finally alone, his lips were on hers again and she got lost in their kiss. Swinging her arms around him, she felt her whole body relax. Having him here with her again was all she had wished for in the past years. She had missed him more than anyone else before and she promised herself that she would never leave him again.

Before she had seen him, she was afraid that he might be mad at her for leaving him. Or maybe he would have simply gotten over his feelings for her and she would have had to deal with him being around her, but never really being hers again. But the moment he touched and kissed her all of her worries just faded away. He was here and he loved here, even after all those years apart. When they stopped kissing, his hands were holding her face, his faces still only inches away from hers. She felt his warm breath on her lips as they both just stood there, looking deep into each other’s eyes and smiling.

Careless. Safe. Happy. Free.

Those were the words that came to her mind, when she thought of her time with Rex. And yet none of these words seemed to do justice to the feeling she actually got, whenever she was around him. A feeling of having everything she could ever want and more. The moments she spent with him, were the happiest moments of her life and she would remember them for the rest of her life. Yes, thinking back she realized that being with Rex were her happiest memories.

And being apart from him the worst.

She placed her hand on the stone in front of her, her fingers brushing over the spot where his name was engraved into the stone. Tears began rolling down her cheeks as her knees gave in and she sunk to the ground. This time he was the one who left and unfortunately, he wouldn’t return again. The last time she left, she felt like leaving a part oft her with him and this time she hoped that he had left part of himself with her.

“I love you,” he said, after he kissed her for the first time.

“I love you,” he said, when they were laying next to each other each night.

“I love you,” he said, when she left him.  

“I love you,” he said, when he broke their first kiss after more than a decade.

“I love you,” he said, before she was leaving to Malachor.

“I love you,” he said, as he took his last breath.

“I love you,” she said, as she kissed the grave in front of her and left.

[ct7567329]

Pass: Rex x Reader

A loud sigh escaped your lips as a holopad was slapped down next to you.

"Here are the list of all the troopers that need their annual evaluation. Make sure you can get them all done within the next thirty rotations," General Shaak Ti informed you, urgency in her voice.

You hummed in response and picked up the holopad, browsing through the list. All ARC Troopers were reevaluated annually to ensure they were still the best fit for the position. The list could easily be knocked in half if the 501st managed to make their way to Kamino anytime soon. The mid-rim sieges would make it difficult but you had to get it done.

Begging Anakin to let the 501st have a few days off on Kamino wasn't too hard to accomplish. He complied to it faster than you expected but you weren't going to complain. There was plenty to do before the reevaluations. Testing new weapons, giving new battle combinations and evaluation their ability to adapt were just a few things that needed to be done. And you had to figure out how to do it.

The only thing you enjoyed about the task was catching up with the troopers. Throughout your time as a special ranks trainer at Kamino,  you've developed many friendships with the soldiers, and unfortunately, you never really got to see them again once they were shipped off.

Your heart jumped a little when you saw the number 7567 on the list. You recognized the number as a Captain named Rex. He was one of the hardest working soldiers you've worked with. Right before he shipped out, he buzz cut his hair and dyed it blonde, making him the only soldier in that captain training program to not have the standard hair cut with brown hair. You admired his willingness to be unique.

Roughly six rotations later, the 501st finally arrived on Kamino, giving the majority of the men a much needed break. You figured Anakin would be in the mess hall so you made your way there to meet up with your long time-no see friend.

It was never difficult to find him. Anakin was always the center of attention. According to his Padawan, he enjoyed telling elaborated stories about before the war to the clones. You approached him from behind as he rambled on about his encounter with a bounty hunter when he was only fourteen.

"Wow, let me guess, you used your lightsaber without holding it. You used the force to levitate it?" you butted it, chuckling slightly.

Anakin turned around and threw his hand up, "(Y/N)! Always a pleasure to see you. Let me introduce you to my new men!"

You smirked and shook your head as Anakin began introducing them. It appeared as if Rex wasn't present.

"And this here is Hard-"

"Case," you laughed, "You forget. I've worked with every solider that steps foot off this planet."

"Great to see you again, General!" Hardcase salutes, "And may I add, your beauty has multiplied since."

You rolled your eyes, "Not even the brutality of the war can take away his charm. But, he takes after his general I suppose."

The men snickered as Anakin gave you a glare.

"Anyway, I sent you a list of men that need their evaluation. I know you're here for a while but of you can let them know to get it done as soon as possible, that would be great. I have thousands of troopers to test."

"You wish is my command," Anakin playfully bowed.

You exhaled and began to exit, "I'll catch up with you all soon!" you called out.

As you exited the mess hall, you began to reminisce on the old days of being a Padawan and filling around with Anakin. The two of you always managed to pull off shenanigans that usually resulted in a conference by the council, but you wouldn't change a thing. You turned the corner to head to your quarters when you knocked into a solider, causing him to drop his helmet.

"Oh my gosh I am so sorry...Rex?" you gasped, once you realized who it was.

Rex's jaw dropped, "General. You remember my name?"

"I remember every soldier's name," you grinned, using the force to pick up his helmet, "especially the special ones." You handed him his helmet.

"Is that a compliment, sir?" he asked, slowly taking his helmet from you.

You bit your lower lip, "Perhaps. How has the war been for the 501st?"

He let out a heavy sigh, "There's always some uphill battles, but I think we are all just glad to be back on Kamino. Even if it's just for seven rotations."

"Me too!" you nodded. Trying to hide your reddening cheeks in his presence was nearly impossible. They say war drains you, but Rex was even more handsome than you remembered.

"Sir? Aren't you always on Kamino though?" he asked, making a confused face.

"Oh no. I mean I'm glad that the 501st is back. You guys are the finest soldiers to come out of my training. My favorite to be around, if I may add."

Rex's entire demeanor when from solider talking to general to a look of more compassion, "You mean that?"

"Lying isn't the Jedi way. And even if I wasn't a Jedi, who would lie to someone like you? Don't sell yourself short, Rex. Don't think just because you're 'just a clone' you're any less than anyone else. And-"

You stopped for a moment, realizing what words. were actually coming out of your mouth.

"And.." you drew out the n sound, "Don't forget to pick a time slot for your evaluation! Can't wait to see how much you've grown on the battlefield!" you rushed to say, before taking off to your quarters at a quick pace.

As you hastily walked away, Rex turned to look at you. He wasn't quite sure what to make of what you said. As far as he could remember, you were always kind to him, compassionate with your words, but never that caliber. Though he would have loved to think of it as a flirtatious encounter, he knew that would be something he could only dream of and continued to make his way to the mess.

"Are you knifing stupid!?" you yelled to yourself as you entered your quarters. In that moment you knew you messed up. If there was anything you were taught as a youngling, is was that admitting your attachments is a tell tale sign you are completely attached. You sighed and flung your body onto your bed, hoping a nap would clear your mind.

Meanwhile, Rex ate his grub hastily. This wasn't common for him at all. Especially since the men of the 501st were used to actually conversing with Rex during meals.

"What's got you eating like a bat out of hell?" Fives asked, turning his head to face his vod.

"Just a little busy," Rex mumbled, stuffing the remaining food in his mouth.

Fives raised an eyebrow, "With what? We have six whole rotations for evaluations, and our evaluator is General (Y/LN). You've said before you two were friendly during your training. I'm sure she'll go easy on you!"

Rex didn't respond.

"And last we heard, you have no interning on becoming Commander Rex," Jesse butted in, "That takes less work off your shoulders. Some of us are looking for promotions."

"You really think you're getting promoted to arc trooper," Hardcase laughed, getting an eye roll in response.

Rex finally got up, "I saw General (Y/LN) in the hall and she asked if I wanted to assist with ARC promotions," he lied, "Just thinking about whether or not I'm fit for that responsibility."

He walked away, wanting nothing more than to find Anakin's droid, R2.

"Told you you should have been kissing Rex's shebs!" Hardcase hummed at Jesse as Rex exited the mess hall.

At last he was alone with his thoughts. He couldn't stop thinking about your conversation with him. As much as his heart told him it was flirtatious, his mind told him other wise. It didn't take Rex long to find R2.

"Hey R2!" he called, the droid rolling towards him and greeting him with a series of beeps.

"I need to know if I have access to know where General (Y/LN)'s quarters are located."

R2 buzzed, telling Rex the location.

"She gave me access?" he replied softly, "strange. Thank you."

Rex made his way through the seemingly never ending halls. He figured the Jedi quarters had to be hidden deep in the halls of Kamino. After what felt like forever he reached the door to your quarters and knocked.

A knock startled you from your nap. In a hurry, you straightened up your bed and laid out your meditation mat, sitting in a meditative state.

"Enter," you called, your eyes shut. As the person entered the room, your eyes were still shut. By reaching out to the Force, you knew it was Rex.

"Captain, you seem a bit, conflicted," you announced opening your eyes to look at him, "take a seat."

The door shut behind him and he sat down across from you on your meditation mat.

"You do know that Captains are not permitted to supervise ARC selection, correct?" you asked, tilting your head slightly.

His lips parted, "Sir?"

You smirked, "Jedi thing. I know what you told your brothers." You stopped for a moment and saw his face drop, "but I would have done the same."

"Huh?"

"What's bothering you, Rex?"

"Uh, nothing. Just nervous about evaluations."

"You think you can lie to a Jedi," you rolled your eyes, cocking your head at him again.

Rex pressed his lips together and looked down at your meditation mat, "you know why I'm here don't you?"

"Perhaps," you shrugged, inching your body towards his.

He swallowed at your closeness to him and he whispered, "so what was it?"

You gave him a shy smile and leaned into him, pressing a soft kiss against his cheek. For being at war for so long, his skin was surprisingly soft.

"That should answer your question, Rex."

Rex's cheeks were flushed, a tan outline of your lips stained on his cheek.

"I'm sorry, Rex," you sighed, moving back to your spot on the meditation mat.

"For? You easily just made me the luckiest man in the galaxy. I've wanted this moment for a long time.  Figured I would be foolish to actually dream of it." Rex's smile remained on his face, "If I don't do my evaluation, do I just get to stay on Kamino until I take it?"

You chuckled, "I get this is your home, but trust me, you'd rather be out on the battlefield."

"I can't get cheek kisses on the battlefield," he smirked contagiously.

The two of you looked at each other in an awkward silence.

Rex finally broke it, "Don't get my wrong, your training is flawless, but unfortunately I wasn't given  romance lessons, so I'm going to give this my best try," he paused for a moment, "would you be interested in a late night snack together in the mess tonight?"

"As long as you're interested in late night holovids in my quarters afterwards," you blushed back.

Rex confidently beamed, "It's a date." He reached out for your hand and softly kissed the back of it, "Now as much as I would love to stay, I have an evaluation to practice for."

You looked up at him as he left the room, "A little birdie told me you'll pass."

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[yan-genshin]

warnings: general yandere content, drug use (alcohol), implied death 

a/n: trying out a new writing style for this one! hopefully it works out-

♥︎ kaeya alberich

kaeya doesn’t like being alone. it’s not something he shows openly- it’s something he keeps deep down, along with most of his honest thoughts and feelings. but it’s as true as the sky is blue; he’s always seeking company, whether it be from his fellow knighst or from less than savory fellows at the bar. but now it’s not enough; loneliness goes from ��being alone” to “not having his beloved around

“you’re leaving already?” kaeya’s smooth voice makes the traveler stop in the doorway to angel’s share. it’s late at night, but not so late as to worry about the bar closing; in fact, it seems mondstadt’s night life is just waking. the traveler doesn’t stick around at bars often, not being one for alcohol, and frankly, there’s no reason why kaeya should want them to stay. he’s got work to do, as evident by the table of probable bandits he’s been chatting up all night; and yet for a second he seems genuinely displeased the traveler is leaving. it’s only for a second, though, and quickly his teasing tone is back as he chuckles and waves his hand. “well, well, at least let me walk you to your inn. you are staying in the city, aren’t you?”

he should be relieved that stormterror- or dvalin, as he should call the dragon- no longer threatens the city, but he can’t. sure, the traveler hasn’t left yet, but he’s heard them talk to venti, talk to others about how they’re supposed to head to liyue soon, to try and speak to rex lapis. it’s mean of him, but it makes him roll his eyes. do they truly think they can just waltz in and get an audience with a god? they got lucky here- to just run into barbatos, that “venti” is as kind and aloof as he is, but there’s no reason rex lapis should be like that... right?

he plants seeds of doubt smoothly, carefully. loose comments about how ancient and important morax is, about how many people crowd around him during the rite of descension, that it’d surely be hard to speak to the god as an outsider. 

he said he’d called them over to his office for a small mission, but it seems he’s more interested in small talk. paimon refused to come over, still hurt about kaeya tricking them once before with his fake quest for some random sword and treasure; but the traveler is still there, dutily attending the cavalry captain’s request. to be fair, he is seemingly briefing them on a mission- something minor about some slimes in springvale- but he’s also awfully chatty. and somehow the topic falls onto the traveler’s twin; it’s hard to miss the glint in kaeya’s eye when he speaks. “i have to admire your dedication. why, me? i wouldn’t be putting in so much effort into chasing for someone who, for all i know, was probably killed by- an all-powerful goddess, you said?”

tearing the traveler down just to be there for them “on their lowest” is scummy, sure, but it works. he has a way with words, a way to bring up the outlander’s wounds to surface, to shatter their heart with his words and then have the gall to rub their back and hold them in his arms when they cry, gently consoling them in ways that don’t really help. oh, are they worried their twin might be dead, gone forever? now, now, no need to cry- they’ll always have a family here in mondstadt. they’ll always have him.

if he were anyone else, the traveler might have just gotten mad at him. but he’s kaeya; shady, up-to-no-good kaeya. of course he can twist his words and actions just perfectly, to make his horrible actions not that noticeable and yet so painful, to make his fake kindness and manipulation appear genuine to the lonely traveler

stacking up tasks and missions on the traveler’s back, packing on emotional baggage and doubt, making the traveler about as afraid of being alone as he is. after all, the traveler has always been with their twin; they’d been using the faith of finding their missing sibling as fuel to keep going, but with the idea that perhaps said sibling is gone planted in their head it’s hard for them to not seek out comfort in kaeya’s presence, with how he dotes on them

paimon is of little help. the little creature might have been the traveler’s closest friend, but the lack of adventuring seems to make the little woman less clingy. in fact, she’s more often than not hanging out with amber or bothering venti- it’s clear she doesn’t know how to deal with the traveler’s sudden depression, choosing to steer clear while “the problem sorts itself out”, not knowing that leaving them alone is just giving kaeya more openings to present himself as the only comfort for them

it’s almost pitiful how he’s trained them, he thinks. they come to him willingly, like a pet seeking its master. even though they end up crying most of the time, due to his own words, they still come to him knowing he’ll kiss their tears away, play with their hair and rub circles into their back as they hiccup and sob. they still talk about leaving sometimes- stressing over missing the rite of descension in liyue- but he knows they don’t have it in them to take on the journey, not as they are. dependant on him. 

it’s so easy to be mean once he knows he’s got the poor traveller hooked. to make them doubt their own fighting, their own skills, making them believe their only real use is to run menial tasks for the knights. oh, don’t they know mostly everyone thinks they’re clumsy and useless? but not him, no, no. it’s so easy to make himself the center of their world once he’s completely destroyed it and re-built it for his own purpose

and even then, if the traveler insists on going to liyue- if even after all this work, they still try to leave, then he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. he doesn’t need to play fair; he just needs to win, right? the fact that the roads from mondstadt to liyue are well-traveled and the hubbub of the rite of descension keep people distracted. nobody will notice one less traveler walking down the roads.

it’s truly as easy as letting the traveler drink more than their share on the night of their “departure”. letting them say goodbye to everyone, promising to return soon. and then just hitting them hard on the back of the head as they walk out of their inn. paimon isn’t a big deal; he doesn’t particularly adore having to dispose of such a helpless creature, but it’s also not difficult to just freeze and toss into the lake surrounding the city as he carries his darling back home, only for them to awaken confused and with a chain around their ankle

“are you angry, perhaps?” he doesn’t sound like a kidnapper, but that’s what he is. or at least at the moment- surely, his dear little traveler will settle down soon enough. “i’d say this is for your own good, but i won’t lie to you, dear. i just had to do this. you were going to leave me.” his voice drops at this- it’s as if the words themselves hurt him. to think they’d leave. he watches with delight the scared look in his beloved’s eyes, how they nervously tug at the chains and ask if this is all a joke. it isn’t, of course. this is just how things have to be. he’s happy to keep telling them that looking for the seven archons is useless; do they really think their sibling is alive? after being attacked by a goddess? didn’t they themselves barely survive months on the beach just because they found some weird fairy thing?

in the end, kaeya values his comfort over his darling’s. this- everything- is his desperate attempts to keep them from leaving. and so what if it ends with a terrified and horribly depressed traveler locked in his house? they’re scared of him, but they also can’t help but crave his comfort, memories of him soothing them and wiping away their tears still resonating with “comfort and warmth” in their mind. and that’s all he wants, really- to hold them, to be the only person in their mind. it’s ok if they break a little in the process, it’s ok, as long as they don’t leave

[tobitofunction]

War of Hearts Part 1

Loving a Clone Captain and being a Senator is even harder than it looks

very long, sorry for not writing for so long. I try to get part 2 out as fast as possible, the same for part 2 of into the new world 

The moonlight up the dark sky showing the beautiful colours hiding in the darkness. The light illuminated your face, your head was placed against the cold window. You scanned the still busy Coruscant streets for a specific person. Your long dress dropped over the edge of the seat you were sitting on. Your feet covered by a thick blanket. "You're still awake," a deep voice said making your eyes widen. "I couldn't sleep, you're haunting me in my dreams, you won't let me sleep," you said getting up. "I'm sorry," he said, his large hand wrapping around your waist," I love it," you said pressing your lips against his." I love you Rex" you whispered," I can't stay long, I'm getting deployed again" he stroked your back gently," Can you wait until I'm asleep?" he hummed," Of course" he took your hand and walked to your bed. The silk sheets were a mess, prove that you tried to sleep but failed. Rex shed his cloak and placed it on a nearby chair. "You got shot," you said looking at his arm, between his shoulder armour and his bicep you can see his blacks ripped and white badge peaking through." It's nothing," he said gently pushing you down on the bed and placing the blood-red silk blanket over your body," I'm worried about you," you said placing your head on his chest," Don't be, I always come back to you," he said kissing your temple," Promise?"," Promise" he smiled kissing your lips. " How long do you think we have to hide?" he asked after a while of silence," Hopefully not forever but you are a clone and I'm a Senator. The odds are against since the beginning," you said nuzzling into his neck," I won't let them take you away Rex," you said. Rex looked down at you with a soft smile, your eyes were closed, your lashes sitting peacefully on your reddened cheeks, soft breaths left your mouth," I love you forever" he whispered.

After knowing for sure you were asleep Rex carefully peeled you off him. You sighed and shifted but didn't wake up much to Rex's relief. He grabbed his cloak and threw it over his shoulder, pulling the hood over his face. He gave you one last look, smiling softly at your peaceful state. He could watch you sleep forever, it calms him down, everything is forgotten when he is close to you. He sneaks out of your room dodging his brother in the Coruscant guard mostly Fox though. Even though they were brothers they didn't really get along, Fox like the other Coruscant guards where bit full of themselves as 'protecting the Chancellor is the most important thing', in their opinion. Rex could see Fox walk down the corridor checking if everything is normal, usually he is stationed either by the Chancellor or by the prison but with another meeting with the senate is tomorrow he was put in charge of that. Rex peeks from the corner and saw Fox disappearing into a room but not before he was checking his surroundings. Rex felt curiously build inside of him but he didn't want to take a chance of being caught. He quickly found himself outside the building. The cold Coruscant air hitting his warm face, the wind blowing his cloak a bit, he grabbed onto his hood tightly so it can't fly off his head.

The sun stung in your eyes making you wince. You felt that Rex's warm body wasn't next to you. The side where he was cold meaning he was gone for a while. A knock on your door made you jump," Who is it?" you called out," Padmé and Riyo" the voice said," Come in" you said flopping back. Your two friends enter your room," Told you she is still in bed" the blue-skinned girl said with a smirk," Get up, it's nearly time to go" Padmé said grabbing your ankle and pulling you slowly of the bed," Padmé" you called grabbing the bedpost but Riyo started to pull at your other ankle," For a girl who grew up in an aristocratic environment you act quite the opposite" Riyo said as you plopped down on the floor with a thud. "What's going on with you?" Padmé asked concerned, you were tempted to tell them about you and Rex, they where your friends after all but you can't risk it if someone finds out Rex is dead and you can't image a world without him.

Rex was walking beside Anakin barely listening to what he was saying. His mind was racing, he hoped he would catch a glimpse of you but at the same time, he wishes he didn't as he would jump you the second you stepped close to him. " Rex!" Anakin said slapping his back," Huh?" he said looking at him, readjusting his helmet under his arm," What's going on? You seemed distracted" he said," Emm nothing sir" Anakin nodded, his gaze staying on Rex for a second. Rex wanted to tell Anakin deep down but the fear in his chest of being caught and dragging your name down was too big. "General Skywalker," a female voice said making Rex look up, his heart skipped a beat, you stood beside Padmé as she hugged Anakin," Senator Amidala, Senator L/N," he said bowing slightly," What are you doing here?" Padmé asked as you tried not to stare at Rex or to jump into his strong arms, Rex felt the same, he was looking at Padmé but stole some glances from you. You looked stunning, the red fabric looked great against your skin, Rex just wanted to kiss your Rosie lips not wanting to care about the rules, if you weren't a Senator if you would have been just an ordinary citizen he would have kissed you right here not caring if he was court-martialed. "Y/N and I need to go. See you later General" Padmé said with a soft smile before grabbing your hand and walking away. You looked at Rex one last time with a loving smile." Ahh I see, I know what's bothering you" Anakin said making Rex's heart jump," You have a crush on Senator L/N. Don't blame you, Rex, she's pretty not as Pretty as Senator Amidala but pretty and I think she likes you too" Anakin said with a wink as Rex sighed in relief as Anakin clearly didn't have a clue of their relationship. " Don't bother though, Senator's are really hard to date, all they talk is politics" he said making Rex lift a brow," Which I wouldn't know about" Anakin said quickly before slapping Rex's backside making the clone gasp," Let's head for our positions".

Like many council meetings it ended in a big argument, Padmé and you like always seemed to agree with trying to give people like the clones more human but it was thrown out. You were walked back to your room by a Coruscant guard which you didn't know the name of, he didn't speak anyway. During the whole meeting, you could feel Rex staring at you from his position, it was like a superpower for better or worse. Walking into the large room you spotted Rex sitting on the red couch, his blond hair getting illuminated by the Coruscant sun. " Rex," you said softly making him look up," I'm so sorry, Padmé and I tried but-"," It's fine, I'm used to it," he said wrapping his arm around your waist. He kissed your forehead and then nuzzled his face into your neck, his hot breath tickling your neck," Even though I can't be seen in public with you, I love you and I will until I die" he said kissing your neck softly. "And so will I," you said grazing his scalp gently," You getting deployed tomorrow right as your still here?". Rex sighed and nodded caressing your cheek," Make love to me than" you said has his arms rub your side," You sure?" you nodded.

You woke up the next day without Rex just like yesterday and most of the days you spend nights together. Touching your skin were Rex's lips has touched your skin yesterday. His lips were rough but it felt smooth against your skin. You heard a knock on your door making you quickly snap out of it. "Just a minute" you yelled grabbing your robe," Okay you can come in". Soon a blue-skinned, pink-haired senator entered with a happy expression," Hey Riyo" you smiled," Why are you so smiley?" you said with a smirk," Just a good day" she said tugging at her collar," At least someone has a good start" you said playing with your fingers," What's wrong?" she said placing her hand on top of yours," I.. it's nothing, just one of those days" you smiled.

It's has been three weeks since Rex left, he had two missions back to back. Umbara and now he is in Zygerria with Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahoska. You couldn't even talk to him or see him, he quickly commed you telling you what happened. His voice sounded tired, strained and broken, you're worried about him. You tried to contact one of his brothers but you were to busy with being a Senator and being sick on top of that. You were with Padmé and Riyo talking about the next meeting. You were barely listening as your head was dropping, your skin felt on fire and you felt like throwing up. " Y/N, you look horrible?" Padmé said placing her hand on her forehead," You're burning up. I take you to the nurse" she said wrapping her arm around your waist, Riyo rubbed your back with a sympathetic look. On your way to the nurse, Commander Fox alongside Thorn," Senators, where are you going?" Thorn asked," The nurse, Y/N isn't feeling well," Padmé said, Riyo stayed quiet, kinda hiding behind the two of you. Fox helmet still seemed to find her," Senator Chuchi, why are you hiding? We aren't that scary?" he hummed. Riyo tensed but shrugged it off quickly," We need to go. As you can see Y/N isn't feeling well," she said taking you from Padmé's arms and pushing through the two Commander's.

"Congratulations Senator your pregnant" the doctor said. Your eyes widen," I'm pregnant?" the doctor nodded. You looked at your friends who looked as shocked as you. " Y/N, who is the father?" Padmé asked after entering your room," I can't tell you" you whimpered," Why?" Riyo asked," Because he would be killed". It seemed to click for Padmé," It's Rex isn't it? He's the father of your child" you bit your lip and nodded," Please don't tell anyone. Rex will be killed and I can't live with that" you said as tears rolled down your cheek. " Don't worry we won't tell" Riyo said as Padmé nodded.

You sat on the couch playing with your fingers, the sun was already gone and the moon was bright against the dark sky. You heard the door open and thudding noise. "Hello me'shla" Rex said kissing your head," You look upset? What's wrong," he asked concerned sitting down next to you patting your thigh," I'm pregnant Rex" you mumble," Sorry?" he asked his voice gruff," I'm pregnant and obviously your the father" you spat out making Rex wince," What are we going to do?" he asked quietly," I will give birth to it and then we could put it up for adoption"," Is that what you want," Rex said rubbing your back," What I want? I want to be normal, I would love to have this baby and raise with you but.."," But I'm owned by the Senate and if they find out they kill me and do force knows what to the baby" Rex finished getting a bit angry. He rubbed his face and sighed," Let's call this off Y/N, if the find out your pregnant, they want to know who the father is" Rex said taking a deep breath," They will find out about us and-"," Goodbye Rex" you said kissing his cheek," It's for the best".

It's been a couple of months since Rex and you called it quits. Your belly grew and it's getting harder to hide it. Padmé and Riyo helped to hide your belly and coming up with a story. Everyone seemed to believe but Fox, however, seemed very keen on the identity of the father of the baby. "I finally got the Warren for his arrest," Fox said to Thorn," Chancellor finally found the evidence enough?"," Well he had to as Senator Chuchi spilt" your blood went cold," How did you manage that?"," I have my methods," he said a smirk evident in his voice. "No, Rex" you cupped your belly," What about the Senator?" Thire asked," Bring her to the Senator while I get the Captain" Fox said walking in the direction of your room.

Riyo was in her room when you burst in," Why did you tell him?", you snapped making her jump," Y/N come down it's not good for the baby-"," Don't give me advice, you told Fox about the baby being Rex's" her eyes widen and she looked down at her feet," I'm sorry, I was drunk and I thought he would just brush it off as drunk ramblings" she said placing her hands on your shoulder put you swatted them off," I can't forgive you for that, Rex will be killed because of you" you said venom dripping from your tongues. You didn't give her time to say something as you dashed off hoping to get to Rex in time, you might have broken up but you still loved him with all your heart.

Rex meanwhile was talking to Anakin and Fives when the Coruscant guards burst into the room and pointing their blasters at Rex," Captain Rex, you are under arrest for violating clone law" Thorn said grabbing Rex's arm," Hey let go of the Captain" Fives said throwing a punch at Thorn leading to him being tackled to the floor," Wow slow down, what law should he have broken?" Anakin asked placing his hand on Rex's chest," He was in a relationship with a Senator which lead to pregnancy" Thorn said making everything go quite. Everyone who was in the room watched in disbelief," Rex? Which Senator?" Thorn was about to answer when you burst in," Oh no" you said quietly," Senator Y/N speaking from the Devil, Commander Fox would be looking for you. Follow me" he ordered and you hung your head low as tears prickled in your eyes. Rex was pushed past you, his arm brushing against yours making your skin flush, he gave you a soft smile and his eyes quickly wandered down your body.

In a matter of minutes, you stood in front of Palpatine's office. Fox already stood in front of the door with his arms crossed, his visor looking down at you," There you are" he said moving aside to let you pass, Thorn pushed Rex into the office making him stumble a bit, you were about to say something when Rex shot you a look. You closed your mouth and walked behind feeling Fox's hand on your lower back which made you quicken your pace. "Chancellor, they are here," Fox said making the older man turn around. " Senator, how lovely to see you," he said," I would say the same but it would be a lie," you said crossing your arms," Now, now, don't be like that," he said gesturing you to sit which you did as your feet were killing you. Palpatine looked at Rex," Captain out of all of the clones you were one of the last clone I thought who would break a rule" Rex looked at the ground," I don't regret falling in love and I won't regret my child" he said making your heart skip a beat," How noble" Palpatine said," Won't save you, however. Your trail is tomorrow and it isn't looking good for you. Senator Y/N, Commander Fox will be walking you to your quarters" Palpatine said looking you up and down before whispering something into Fox's ear which made him tense up a bit.

Fox pushed you towards a ship while Thorn pulled Rex towards a different one which will take him to prison. "Where are you taking me?" Fox didn't say anything put motions you to sit. You watched out the window and saw Rex stare out the window, his eyes meeting yours, he smiled sadly and mouthed an 'I love you' which made you tear up a bit. You looked at Fox who was staring at you," Why are you doing this?" you mumble as the ship takes off," Why did you hand in your own brother?" he remained quiet," Answer me" you hissed. Fox sighed and took his helmet off, it was the same face Rex had but it was completely different at the same time. Fox's hair was jet black and trimmed neatly, he had light stubble on his jawline, his skin wasn't as dark and Rex's or any of the 501st as he works inside rather than on a battlefield. "It was my duty, he would have done the same," Fox said placing his helmet under his arm," No, he would have kept it.... why where with Riyo anyway?" you asked noticing him stiffing," Hypocrite, you and she are having an affair" you stated," It shouldn't have happened-"," Do you love her? I love Rex and Rex loves me. Riyo does she love you?"," I.. I love her" you scoffed. You turn away in disgust, Fox looking at his feet in shame," Turn the ship around" he said making you turn. Fox was facing the pilot," Fly to the nearest planet but not Kamino" he said, "Yes sir" the clone captain said. " I made a mistake and will do my best to make this better-" he was cut off with a loud bang which made you fall on the seat and hit your head against the floor making everything go black

[ayo-cowbelly]

Anakin Everlasting

read on ao3 here

wowww look at me, posting writing two days in a row... here’s to being productive

again, blame discord. those amazing angst-lovers keep inspiring me to write and make everyone sad.

hope you enjoy!

p.s. pretty sure it's a thing that jedi live a lot longer than average people, usually over 100 years. so that's why that's in there.

***

Anakin wandered throughout the temple. Not the Coruscant one, as you might think- no, he was on Yavin IV now. Years ago, the Jedi had decided to expand and, seeing as there was an unused temple on a lush planet, a planet that was strong in the Force- it was perfect for a new branch of the Order.

He stared out at the greenery, so different from what he had been used to. Even though he came to this place almost 100 years ago, Anakin couldn't find himself getting fully adjusted to the new environment.

Anakin was now surrounded by greens, blues, and browns, so different from the golds and tans he was used to. Those colors represented everything he loved, everything he'd lost, and that which he could not bear to see taken from him. That was why, even if it was a bit uncomfortable, Anakin had moved to Yavin IV. He has lost so much- and Anakin had never been good with loss.

Yes, time heals all wounds, and of course he'd spent time meditating with Yoda, learning how to let go; Yoda was the only one who could even begin to understand Anakin's plight. Despite that, however, he still found his heart aching when he thought of his friends, his family, and how they had left him.

Padmé had been the first to go. She lived to be 97, and Anakin never stopped loving her. As she got older, Padmé had insisted on Anakin moving on, finding a younger person who could keep up with him, now that she was too frail to even leave the apartment most days. He knew she'd be gone soon, so he promised he'd try to find someone.

It was the only promise he'd ever broken.

"I don't want you to mourn the moment you spent with me for an eternity," She had told him.

Anakin, tears in his eyes, whispered back, "You are my eternity, Angel."

That, even 1000 years later, was still true. He loved her, as many others in the galaxy had loved someone; fiercely, eternally, even if she was dead. Anakin and Padmé had a love that would always be real, be true, as long as he kept her memory alive as he traveled across the stars.

Anakin cried for days when Ahsoka died.

His first and dearest Padawan lived to be 117, and she had been feisty until the very end (only Leia had been able to keep up with Ahsoka in that regard- oh, Force, Leia-)

When she left, laying in her bed with soft condolences and gentle teases and whispers of "Don't forget me, Skyguy," Anakin had thought that would break him, as he held her now-limp hand.

Obi-Wan was worse. Obi-Wan, the oldest family member he had left, had been gone for a long time. His brother had lived to be around 124 (or maybe not, Anakin seemed to be getting worse at keeping track of time the longer his life went on). Obi-Wan had lived a long life, a happy life; and when his time came, he learned enough of the Force that he could still visit Anakin, sometimes.

Every once and awhile, the two could talk (it used to be always, back when Obi lived- but Anakin would be the only one who would get an always). But it wasn't the same. Not even close.

He'd never admit it, but Anakin cried for over a week when Obi-Wan faded away. At that time, he was sure he would shatter; If Padmé hadn't broken him, if Ahsoka hadn't, surely his older brother would.

Obi's death had to be the worst, he was positive.

He was so, so wrong.

Nothing could compare to the pure heartbreak that came with the death of his children.

Luke, who was bright like sunshine and serene like water- and Leia, who was pure fire and somehow engulfed everyone she met. They were the brightest parts of Anakin's life, both in the Force and not. They were the best parts of him and Padmé, and he loved them so incredibly much. And, being twins, Luke and Leia spent almost every moment together since their birth. Throughout their lives, it was rare to see one without the other, for nobody was as closely intertwined as they; save for Anakin and Obi-Wan.

So, when Death came for his children, Anakin had to watch as they left together (there was no other way they could go). He'd had them for an amazing 156 years, years he would forever cherish.

Now he didn't have anyone. But somehow, he was still whole. He hadn't broken then, and he hadn't broken when his later Padawans had died (death was hard for Anakin to think about. Even though he somewhat feared it, he also wanted it, if it meant he could see his dearest ones again). But Anakin knew Death would never claim him, so he made the most out of his eternal life (but it was a half-life, for what is a life without love?)

He took other Padawans, trained other students and treated them as his own. Though he knew it was a bad idea, as nobody could stay forever, they became his family. Just as Ahsoka once had, when she'd stepped out of a shuttle on Christophsis.

Anakin also found he was good at storytelling. Every night, he made his way to the Crèche and regaled the younglings with his stories. The now-legends of a beautiful queen, a wise Jedi Master, a snarky Togruta (who had become a Master in her own right), an exasperated clone captain; and later the stories of a brave young man and his fiery twin sister, the smuggler she fell in love with, and how through it all were two droids who were the best of friends.

He told the next generations about their adventures, how they found joy while fighting a war, and he told them of how they had managed to discover and overthrow the Sith. He taught them how to find the Light, find love, even when hope seems lost.

The younglings loved the stories, ate them up until Anakin had no more, so he'd retell them again. He told them to the children, to the Padawans, to the Knights, and even the Masters (even if they were old, most had grown up hearing of Anakin's adventures). His only rule for those who heard the tales? Pass them on, so the memories stay alive.

He taught them a truth he had discovered: Nobody is ever really gone, as long as you keep on telling their stories.

Anakin forever would.

He made his way to a special room he had reserved for himself in the Temple, for as Grandmaster (now that Yoda was gone, Anakin had become the Grandmaster. Yoda's death, of all people... that had hit Anakin harder than he'd thought it would. When someone who seems to be forever dies, said death is shocking) he could do such things.

When he entered, he looked around the room. He surveyed the pictures and trinkets that lay there, waiting for him.

By Padmé's picture, there was the old Japor snippet necklace- along with a small flimsi paper flower he'd once made for her, onboard a Star Destroyer while thinking of how he missed her.

Beside Obi-Wan's, there was a lightsaber that hummed. It seemed to have a mind of its own now, and the buzzing got louder as Anakin approached- or rather, his own blade did. Just as their users were connected, these lightsabers were as well. There was also a small holo of Anakin and Obi-Wan on Cato Nemoidia, just after that "business" that Obi-Wan always said "didn't count". In the picture, Padawan Anakin is grinning widely, arm slung around a very disgruntled Obi-Wan's shoulders.

Next to Ahsoka's lay her two lightsabers and the golden headdress she'd worn since she was young. Anakin remembers how he'd gently lifted it off her head at the funeral, for if he couldn't keep his sister, his beloved Padawan, then he would keep this small part of her.

Alongside Luke and Leia's (their pictures were one and the same, since they almost never did something without the other) there were their own 'sabers and two drawings the twins made when they were toddlers. If Anakin remembered correctly (as time went on, he found it harder and harder to look at such things) the pictures depicted their family- which of course included Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, Rex, R2 and 3PO.

The two droids had been shut down long ago, finally going out of use just after Padmé's death.

The room housed other pictures, which showed the rest of Anakin's Padawans- including Ahsoka, there were six in total; But even though he kept all their lightsabers, he only had trinkets for two of them.

Uchani, who had been his second Padawan about 40 years after Ahsoka died, had been a quiet but strong Zeltron. She was a calm person, but there was spunk in her that rivaled Leia's. Uchani was amazing at calming Anakin down when he was angry, the gentle waves of her Force presence dousing out the embers in his. She had become his little sister as well.

Then there was Myn. A young Tholothian, Myn was brave and outspoken, and him and Anakin fit well together. He was the sixth student Anakin had taken, and though he loved all his students, Anakin remembered Myn vividly.

In all his eternal years, Anakin had not been prepared for seeing his Padawan die young. In battle, no less.

Myn was slain by a Darksider in the catacombs of Akiva. Anakin had been too late, moments too late; after cutting down the enemy, he watched as Myn's life dwindled.

Knowing Anakin well after ten years of training, Myn had wheezed, "Don't- Don't do anything- anything reckless, Master." 

Anakin refused to look at the wound on his apprentice's stomach. "Myn, we need to get you to a healer-" 

"Master- Anakin-" Myn coughed, and Anakin felt the tears in his eyes overflow and run down his face.

"No, please, not you too," Anakin said, but he already knew what the outcome would be.

"It'll be okay, Anakin," Myn murmered, and then he was gone, just like all the others.  

Anakin shook off the memory of his last Padawan, and he sat down in the middle of the room. Rex's helmet (Rex, who had lived to be 105 once the accelerated aging was healed, had never stopped standing up for what was right. When his body failed him, he switched to words, fighting until the end. Anakin missed his twin so much), which Anakin had kept in as good condition as possible, stared back at him as he told his family of his day.

When he finished, he felt a presence behind him, and wasn't surprised to see the faint blue glow of Obi-Wan's ghost.

"It sounds like you had a good day, Anakin."

"I did," He said back happily. "But it's not over yet. I'm about to go see the younglings- care to join me, Master?"

Obi-Wan smiled softly. "I'd be delighted, Padawan mine."